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BIRDS  OF  LEWISTON-AUBURN 


AND  VICINITY 


CARRIE   ELLA   MILLER 


gss 


BIRDS  OF  LEWISTON-AUBURN 

AND  VICINITY 


BY 


CARRIE  ELLA  MILLER 

>N 

With  an  Introduction  by 
PROFESSOR  J.  Y.  STANTON 


Lewiston  Journal  Co. 
Lewiston,  Maine 


:-'  «d 


Copyright,  1918 

By 
Carrie  Ella  Miller 


f    '         'r?' 

".;',"     1  »»,„     '      V 


382117 


PROF.  STANTON  ON  THE  COLLEGE  CAMPUS 


iciutatimt 

TO  PROFESSOR  J.  Y.  STANTON,  WHO  HAS  BEEN  THE 
INSPIRATION     OF     ALL     MY     BIRD     STUDY, 
WHOSE  SUGGESTION  PROMPTED  THE 
WRITING    OF    THIS    PAMPHLET, 
AND    WHOSE    CRITICISM 
HAS      BEEN      IN- 
VALUABLE. 


PREFACE 

The  object  of  this  pamphlet  is  to  furnish  a  list  of 
birds  that  may  be  seen  in  this  vicinity  if  one  goes  afield 
to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  feathered  songsters,  and 
to  give  the  approximate  time  of  their  arrival. 

It  is  not  its  object  to  be  technical  or  classical  or  to 
give  descriptions,  for  all  have  access  to  books  that  fur- 
nish abundant  knowledge  of  birds.  What  I  offer  is  a 
careful  record  of  personal  observations  and  experiences, 
hoping  to  stimulate  a  desire  in  others  to  learn  something 
of  ornithology  from  nature,  for  it  can  not  be  satisfac- 
torily learned  from  books  alone. 

My  natural  ear  is  attuned  to  music,  so  many  of  my 
remarks  will  be  on  the  songs  of  birds,  for  to  me  as  to 
John  Burroughs  "What  is  a  bird  without  its  song?  It 
seems  to  me  that  I  do  not  know  a  bird  till  I  have  heard 
its  voice." 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction  by  Prof.  Stan  ton  7 

Foreword  8 

Spring  Migration  9 

With  the  Birds  in  Summer  11 

Autumnal  Migration  13 

Winter  Birds  15 

Land  Birds  17 

Water  Birds  65 

Guide  to  the  Arrival  of  Birds  74 


•i 


Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Androscoggin  County  are 
greatly  interested  in  its  birds.  Probably  there  are  more 
bird-lovers  in  it  than  in  any  other  county  of  New  Eng- 
land in  proportion  to  the  number  of  inhabitants.  For 
this  reason  alone  it  is  very  desirable  that  we  have  a  cat- 
alogue of  the  birds  that  may  be  seen  in  the  county.  Since 
I  knew  of  no  one  more  capable  of  making  such  a  cata- 
logue than  Miss  Carrie  E.  Miller  I  suggested  the  idea  to 
her.  In  whatever  she  undertakes  Miss  Miller  is  one  of 
the  most  energetic  and  persevering  persons  with  whom  I 
am  acquainted.  She  has  acquired  her  remarkable  famil- 
iarity with  the  birds  of  this  county  in  the  early  morning 
and  late  afternoon,  for  while  she  has  been  studying  the 
birds  she  has  been  employed  every  day  as  a  clerk  in  one 
of  our  city  banks.  Miss  Miller  has  been  greatly  aided  in 
her  favorite  pursuit  in  possessing  an  ability  to  distinguish 
the  notes  and  songs  of  birds  such  as  few  possess.  I  ought 
to  add  that  there  is  much  more  in  Miss  Miller's  pamphlet 
than  a  mere  catalogue  of  birds. 


FOREWORD 

During  the  summer  vacation  days  of  my  childhood  in 
the  country  I  became  acquainted  with  the  robin,  "ground 
sparrow/'  bobolink,  kingbird,  "yellow-hammer,"  and 
cuckoo. 

I  took  my  first  step  in  ornithology  hearing  the  hermit 
thrush,  when  studying  botany. 

After  my  interest  in  the  hermit  thrush  there  were 
other  birds  I  wanted  to  know.  Burroughs  says  "Take 
the  first  step  in  ornithology  (to  me  it  was  hearing  the 
thrush),  and  you  are  ticketed  for  the  whole  voyage. 
There  is  a  fascination  about  it  quite  overpowering," 
understood  only  by  those  who  have  had  the  experience. 
Every  walk,  every  sojourn  in  camp  or  at  the  farm  means 
so  much  more,  for  "the  cawing  of  a  crow  makes  one  feel 
at  home  and  a  new  song  drowns  all  care." 

After  struggling  along  for  a  few  years  making  slow 
progress,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  invited  to  join  the 
college  class  on  their  walks  with  Prof.  Stanton.  Then 
observation  really  began,  for  under  his  guidance  every 
bird  student  must  receive  knowledge  and  inspiration. 

For  several  seasons  the  experience  expressed  in  Van 
Dyke's  poem,  "School,"  has  been  mine. 

"I  put  my  heart  to  school 
In  the  woods  where  veeries  sing 
And  brooks  run  clear  and  cool, 
In  the  fields  where  wild  flowers  spring. 

i 

"  'And  why  do  you  stay  so  long, 
My  heart,  and  where  do  you  roam?' 
The  answer  came  with  a  laugh  and  a  song, — 
'I  find  this  school  is  home.' " 


Birds  of  Lewist  on- Auburn  9 

SPRING  MIGRATION 

In  February,  especially  after  the  middle  of  the 
month,  we  begin  to  see  signs  of  spring  in  the  bird  world. 
Chickadees  that  have  left  our  city  feeding  stations  dur- 
ing the  severe  weather  of  December  and  January  return 
and  sing  their  "phe-be"  note  interpreted  by  some  one  to 
say  "spring  soon."  The  tree  sparrows  have  a  tiny  song 
which  Chapman  says  sounds  like  the  tinkling  of  icicles, 
we  hear  the  caw  caw  of  crows  flying  over,  for  in  Febru- 
ary they  become  more  noisy  and  numerous.  A  herring 
gull  is  seen  sailing  over  the  river  and  the  winter  birds 
are  more  in  evidence. 

About  mid-February  when  horned  and  prairie  horned 
larks  are  seen,  we  say  the  first  spring  migrant  has  arrived. 

In  March  the  tree  sparrow  changes  his  song  to  the 
sweetest  warble  that  reminds  me  of  the  beginning  of  a 
song  sparrow's  but  much  lighter.  Another  song  of  his 
makes  me  wonder  if  a  canary  has  commenced  to  sing. 

During  the  winter  wre  have  heard  the  sweet  call  notes 
of  redpolls,  goldfinches,  grosbeaks  and  chickadees,  but 
this  song  of  the  tree  sparrow  seems  to  me  to  be  the  first 
spring  singing.  It  always  reminds  me  of  a  sunshiny, 
frosty  morning  in  March  when  I  heard  them  for  the  first 
time  as  they  flocked  about  a  feeding  station  near  the 
Androscoggin  river — south  of  Riverside  Cemetery.  If 
one  is  where  the  chickadees  are,  either  in  the  woods  or  at 
some  feeding  place,  he  will  hear  the  most  delightful 
warbling  song  in  March  that  has  no  quality  of  "dee-dee- 
dee"  in  it.  Twice  I  have  heard  it,  once  in  a  shrub  near 
one  of  the  city  streets  and  once  in  the  deep  woods.  Pur- 
ple finches  may  also  be  seen,  probably  some  who  have 
wintered  near,  and  on  the  trees  about  the  city  a  wood- 


io  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

pecker's  "tap,  tap"  or  a  nuthatch's  "yank,  yank"  is  heard. 
The  sparrow  hawk,  followed  immediately  by  bluebirds, 
robins  and  blackbirds  arrives  and  soon,  perhaps  the  next 
day,  song  sparrows,  j  uncos,  meadowlarks  and  fox  spar- 
rows are  seen.  Then  every  bird  lover  gets  busy,  for  one 
must  go  out  in  the  morning  for  best  results. 

Those  first  spring  morning  choruses  after  the  silence 
of  winter  are  as  H.  K.  Job  says  "the  symphony  of 
Nature,  a  grander  one  than  even  the  immortal  Beethoven 
could  devise." 

In  April  the  last  winter  birds  go  north.  During  the 
warm  days  of  this  month  there  will  be  migrations,  then 
long  cold  spells  which  retard  the  passage  of  the  birds, 
but  May  keeps  us  busy  all  the  favorable  days  and  we 
see  the  last  migrants  arrive  either  to  live  with  us  or  to 
pass  on  to  summer  homes  in  the  North  by  the  first  week 
in  June,  if  the  season  is  normal. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  n 


WITH  THE  BIRDS  IN  SUMMER 

By  early  June  the  migrants  have  come  and  gone. 
Then  I  enjoy  trips  to  the  country  for  Burroughs  says 
"June  of  all  the  months  the  student  of  ornithology  can 
least  afford  to  lose.  Most  birds  are  nesting  then  and  in 
full  song  and  plumage."  When  the  excitement  of  the 
migration  is  over  in  the  residential  sections  of  the  city,  a 
June  walk  in  the  suburbs  where  many  birds  are  house- 
keeping is  very  enjoyable. 

June  is  the  time  when  I  most  enjoy  the  evening  songs 
and  the  morning  chorus,  for  it  is  the  month  of  long  days. 
The  robin  awakes  the  world  as  early  as  three  o'clock 
with  his  clarion  notes  and  the  hermit  sings  his  vesper 
hymn  as  late  as  eight  o'clock. 

How  the  bird  lover  delights  in  those  sunsets  arid 
those  evenings  of  song  that  may  be  experienced  on  the 
nesting  ground  of  the  feathered  musicians!  As  dark- 
ness creeps  on  and  the  stars  come  out,  the  last  strains  of 
a  white-throat,  field  sparrow,  robin,  veery  and  hermit 
are  heard  and  the  whippoorwill  begins  his  even-song. 
Such  experiences  give  one  as  Burroughs  says  "that 
serene  exaltation  of  sentiment  of  which  music,  literature 
and  religion  are  but  the  faint  types  and  symbols." 

As  Audubon  expresses  it,  when  day  breaks,  how 
delightful  it  is  to  see  fair  Nature  open  her  graceful  eye- 
lids, and  present  herself  arrayed  in  all  that  is  richest  and 
purest  before  her  Creator ! 

When  daylight  is  coming  on  a  nighthawk  flies  over  the 
sleeping  wood  with  his  call  as  if  his  duty  were  to  arouse 
the  sleepers,  the  whippoorwill  awakes  from  one  of  his 
intermittent  naps  to  give  the  world  his  last  strains  of 
"whip-poor-will."  Soon  robins,  hermits,  martins,  spar- 


12  Birds  of  Lewis  ton- Auburn 

rows  and  swallows  pour  forth  their  songs  till  the  full 
chorus  of  feathered  musicians  fills  the  June  air. 

As  most  warblers  rear  but  one  brood,  before  June  is 
over,  their  young  being  strong  on  the  wing,  they  begin 
to  ramble  and  the  afternoon  chorus  diminishes  slightly. 
The  singing  continues  through  the  first  week  in  July, 
then  grows  gradually  less.  By  the  first  of  August  the 
bird-lover's  year  is  rapidly  waning.  Warblers  are 
beginning  to  move  south,  water  birds  are  returning  from 
farther  north,  bobolinks  no  longer  sing  "Robert  of  Lin- 
coln spink-spank-spink"  and  have  changed  their  nuptial 
dress  for  the  humble  garb  of  the  female. 

Little  is  heard  but  the  wood  pewee's  pensive  notes 
and  the  monotony  of  the  red-eyed  vireo.  Field  and  song 
sparrows  are  still  in  tune,  orioles  burst  forth  with  an 
occasional  song,  the  meadowlark  whistles  rarely,  cat- 
birds practice  a  little,  the  "laughing"  notes  of  the  robin 
are  heard  more  than  the  spring  song,  goldfinches  have 
become  numerous  and  break  out  in  canary-like  songs 
and  the  bluebirds  sing  their  "dearie"  or  "far  away"  notes 
with  an  occasional  strain  of  the  spring  song. 

The  swallows  and  flycatchers,  especially  kingbirds, 
hold  carnival  with  the  flies  and  insects  that  fill  the  air 
and  the  songs  are  heard  less  and  less  frequently.  No 
morning  chorus  greets  our  ear. 

We  come  to  the  season  when 

"They  steal  away,  give  little  warning, 

Choose  their  own  time ; 

Say  not  good  night, — but  in  May's  brighter  clime 
Bid  us  good-morning." 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  13 


AUTUMNAL  MIGRATION 

During  the  autumn  the  bird  student  finds  observation 
difficult  because  there  are  many  immature  birds  and 
some  mature  ones  have  changed  their  bright  spring 
plumage  for  quiet  tones;  the  foliage  is  very  thick  and 
the  birds  sing  much  less. 

However  I  find  the  pursuit  interesting  for  one  almost 
feels  a  new  specimen  is  discovered  when  a  blackpoll 
warbler  is  seen  dressed  in  green,  black  and  yellow. 

Also  there  are  many  surprises  in  song,  especially 
among  the  young  birds  who  are  getting  their  voices  in 
tune.  To  me  it  seems  like  the  birds'  playtime  for,  family 
cares  being  over,  they  coo  to  themselves  in  such  con- 
tented little  gems  of  song.  Especially  is  this  true  of 
the  white-throated  sparrows  whose  cooing  seems  more 
choice  than  the  spring  singing,  for  one  needs  a  reserved 
seat  to  hear  it. 

Sometimes  a  bird  gives  a  strain  of  the  spring  song 
but  more  often  the  music  is  so  different  one  goes  on  the 
hunt  for  a  new  specimen  only  to  find  a  familiar  bird 
with  an  unfamiliar  tune.  The  first  harbinger  of  fall  is 
the  bobolink's  change  of  plumage  from  black,  white  and 
yellow  to  the  modest  yellowish  gray  of  the  female  dur- 
ing the  first  of  August.  We  learned  in  the  waning  sum- 
mer that  by  mid-August  there  are  several  reminders  that 
autumn  approaches.  Water  birds  begin  to  move  south- 
ward and  a  stray  migrant  warbler  or  kinglet  may  be 
seen.  On  our  walks  we  miss  the  spring  chorus,  birds 
are  numerous,  the  telegraph  wires  are  covered  with  swal- 
lows, the  grass  is  full  of  chipping  sparrows,  robins  fly 
hither  and  thither,  bluebirds  are  plentiful,  but  all  except 
the  swallows  are  comparatively  silent. 


14  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

The  migration  really  begins  the  last  days  of  August 
and  the  first  of  September  when  the  "chink  chink"  of  the 
bobolink  is  heard  as  he  flies  to  the  rice  fields  of  the 
South  and  the  air  is  full  of  the  twittering  of  the  migrat- 
ing swallows. 

Chickadees,  nuthatches  and  woodpeckers  are  heard 
near  the  city  and  if  one  is  out  in  the  evening  there  are 
tiny  notes  in  the  air  indicating  migration.  The  fly- 
catchers, most  warblers  and  other  insect-eating  birds 
migrate  in  September. 

During  this  month  blue  jays  are  heard  more,  thrushes 
that  have  nested  north  return,  hawks  are  more  in  evi- 
dence and  purple  finches  are  abundant.  October  sees 
white- throated  sparrows,  myrtle  warblers  and  j uncos 
arrive  in  flocks.  Sparrows  and  finches  migrate,  late 
warblers  and  kinglets  return.  Suddenly  they  all  disap- 
pear and  after  the  middle  of  October  few  are  seen  but 
juncos  and  white-throats.  The  fox  sparrow  comes  and 
goes,  blackbirds  leave  and  when  we  see  the  large  hawks 
flying  south  we  know  the  bluebirds,  robins,  white 
throats  and  juncos  will  soon  depart  and  we  must  say 
"good  bye  to  summer." 


Birds  of  Lewiston- Auburn  15 


WINTER  BIRDS 

What  a  pleasure  that  some  birds  revel  in  cold 
weather,  for  they  cheer  our  walks,  and  our  homes  if  we 
have  feeding  stations. 

The  flash  of  white  from  a  flock  of  redpolls  on  a 
cloudy  day,  the  color  scheme  of  yellow,  black  and  white 
of  evening  grosbeaks  as  they  fly  about  our  box  elders 
along  the  city  streets  or  are  visitors  at  some  feeding  sta- 
tion, the  carmine  red  of  the  pine  grosbeaks  as  they  feed 
over  our  heads  in  the  pines  towering  above  a  mantle  of 
snow,  the  blue  and  white  of  the  blue  jay  as  he  flies 
across  the  winter  fields  are  a  surprise,  delight  and 
reward  of  winter  rambles. 

What  is  more  exhilarating  than  a  flock  of  snow  bunt- 
ings so  happy  in  a  storm  making  us  wonder  if  a  bit  of 
the  Arctic  world  has  come  to  us.  The  bird-lover  never 
enjoys  the  chickadee  so  much  as  in  the  winter  for  he  is 
so  social  and  friendly,  feeding  from  our  hands  if  we  will 
have  a  little  patience. 

To  hear  the  sweet  call-note  of  many  of  the  winter 
birds  makes  us  take  notice  that  life  still  exists  over  the 
sleeping  world. 

Occasionally  a  tree  sparrow,  Arctic  three-toed  wood- 
pecker and  goshawks  are  seen  in  late  September  and 
early  October,  but  most  winter  birds  arrive  from  the 
North  during  November.  Much  depends  on  the  tem- 
perature and  food  conditions  whether  or  not  many  are 
seen.  The  winter  of  1916-17  was  favorable  and  I  saw 
the  winter  birds  during  the  winter  months  instead  of  in 
late  fall,  or  early  spring  when  they  were  migrating 
north. 

There  are  two  classes  of  winter  birds,  those  that  come 


1 6  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

from  the  North  in  late  autumn  and  return  in  March  or 
April  and  those  which  are  permanent  residents. 

To  the  former  class  belong  the  brown  creeper,  snow 
bunting,  Hudsonian  chickadee  (rare),  American  gos- 
hawk, evening  and  pine  grosbeak,  redpoll,  northern 
shrike,  pine  siskin,  tree  sparrow,  Arctic  three-toed  wood- 
pecker and  if  one  is  in  the  woods  golden-crowned 
kinglet.  To  the  latter  class  belong  the  black-capped 
chickadee,  goldfinch,  blue  jay,  junco,  red  and  white 
breasted  nuthatches,  ruffed  grouse  (partridge),  downy 
woodpecker,  seen  near  the  city  more  than  any  other 
species,  hairy  woodpecker,  pileated  woodpecker,  where 
the  remnants  of  wooded  districts  are  left,  and  some  of 
the  owls.  Crossbills,  purple  finches  and  cedar  waxwings 
belong  to  the  erratic  class  and  may  be  seen.  Crows 
migrate  to  the  coast  but  are  seen  inland  during  the  win- 
ter months.  The  same  is  true  of  herring  gulls  and 
sheldrakes  if  there  is  open  water;  also  shore  larks  may 
be  seen.  Some  bold  or  careless  individuals  of  our  sum- 
mer birds  have  been  known  to  remain  or  return  in  actual 
winter.  This  accounts  for  an  occasional  robin,  song  and 
white-throated  sparrow,  hawk  and  meadowlark  being 
seen. 

A  great  delight  of  the  winter  is  to  visit  at  one  of  our 
feeding  stations.  Flocks  of  redpolls,  tree  sparrows, 
chickadees,  snow  buntings,  goldfinches  and  individuals 
of  other  winter  birds  feed  so  contentedly  under  the  win- 
dows of  four  of  my  friends,  giving  life  to  an  otherwise 
cheerless  day.  If  the  winter  has  been  so  severe  that  the 
birds  have  left  our  city  feeding  stations,  we  know  when 
they  return  in  February  that  they  hear  the  call  of  spring. 


1 


Prof.  Stanton  on  a  "bird-walk"  at  Lake  Auburn 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  17 

LAND  BIRDS 

ORDER  PERCHING  BIRDS 
FAMILY  THRUSHES 

1.  *(766)  BLUEBIRD 

A  summer  resident,  quite  common.  A  party  of  us 
saw  one  March  7,  1915,  but  the  regular  time  of  arrival  is 
about  March  20.  It  remains  till  the  first  of  November  and 
stragglers  are  seen  even  later.  The  bluebird  is  a  good 
fighter.  It  spends  much  time  peeping  here  and  there  for 
nesting  places.  Two  broods  are  reared.  While  the  robin's 
spring  note  is  the  first  for  the  city,  the  bluebird  is  usually 
seen  a  morning  or  two  earlier  in  the  country.  Its  note  is 
a  welcome  sound  on  that  March  morning  when  the  "earth 
tinge  on  his  breast  and  the  sky  tinge  on  his  back"  give  us 
the  first  color  of  spring  as  he  flies  from  "post  to  post." 
That  rich  contralto  warble  often  heard  in  the  air  before 
the  bird  is  seen,  is  associated  with  early  spring.  Bur- 
roughs says  its  song  expresses  love.  After  it  changes  the 
first  love  song  to  one  of  only  three  notes,  the  "de-a-rie"  is 
poured  forth  with  that  richness  of  quality  peculiar  to  the 
bluebird.  About  April  20  it  settles  down  to  housekeep- 
ing and  the  song  is  heard  less.  In  the  autumn  its  notes 
have  that  sweet  plaintiveness  quite  in  keeping  with  the 
season. 

2.  (761)  AMERICAN  ROBIN 

A  very  abundant  summer  resident.  Not  all  that  are 
seen  during  the  spring  migration  remain.  Some  go 
farther  north  for  the  summer  and  reappear  on  their  way 
south  in  the  autumn.  It  arrives  from  the  i8th  to  27th 

*The  numbers  in  parentheses  are  taken  from  the  Check-List  of 
the  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 


1 8  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

of  March  and  departs  the  last  of  October,  though  strag- 
glers may  be  seen  later,  occasionally  in  the  winter.  April 
3,  1917,  a  pair  commenced  building  a  nest  on  a  porch  of 
one  of  the  houses  near  the  city.  Two  or  three  broods  are 
reared  each  season. 

I  do  not  know  as  it  is  universal,  but  in  many  cases  the 
males  go  every  night  to  roosting  places  and  as  soon  as  a 
brood  can  fly  they  take  the  young  to  these  roosts. 

Burroughs  says  there  is  something  military  in  the 
robin's  song.  Its  first  spring  note  in  March  awakes  us 
to  the  realization  that  spring  is  here.  Because  of  its  dem- 
ocratic and  neighborly  ways  the  robin's  note  is  known  to 
every  one.  Probably  most  of  us  remember  learning  from 
a  mother  the  joy  of  that  early  spring  song. 

In  midsummer  it  loses  its  loquacity,  but  even  into 
autumn  bursts  forth  now  and  then  with  the  familiar  strain. 
In  October  I  have  heard  a  flock  uttering  their  "laughing" 
song,  a  "cheery  call  full  of  joy  and  vivacity"  as  they  fed 
on  the  mountain  ash  berries  as  if  it  were  their  last  play 
time  before  leaving  for  the  south. 

The  name  was  given  by  the  Pilgrims.  After  the  ter- 
rible winter  of  1620-21  these  "red-breasted"  birds 
appeared  at  Plymouth  reminding  the  people  so  much  of 
the  English  robin  that  they  called  them  robins.  From 
that  day  till  now  this  thrush  has  been  called  the  Ameri- 
can Robin. 

3.     (759b)   HERMIT  THRUSH 

During  my  student  days  when  gathering  botany  speci- 
mens a  sweet,  solitary  song  was  heard  as  the  evening 
shadows  fell.  I  kept  wondering  what  bird  I  enjoyed  so 
much  till  a  friend  well  versed  in  ornithology  told  me  it 
was  the  Hermit  Thrush,  and  there  began  my  bird-study. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  19 

A  summer  resident.  Although  it  sometimes  nests  near 
the  city,  we  must  go  to  the  woodland  for  its  real  home. 
The  earliest  date  of  arrival  that  I  have  is  April  16.  By 
the  i  Qth  we  expect  to  hear  their  song  if  the  weather  is 
mild.  In  September  individuals  begin  to  migrate  from 
farther  north  and  depart  by  the  first  of  November,  my 
latest  date  being  November  I. 

This  most  exquisite  of  songsters  keeps  in  tune  till 
about  August  12,  which  indicates  the  rearing  of  two 
broods.  The  last  time  I  listened  to  the  thrush  was 
August  14,  1917,  as  we  walked  through  an  evergreen 
growth.  It  was  nearly  sunset  and  no  other  song  was 
heard.  The  spirituality  of  its  tones  affected  me  as 
always,  for  almost  unconsciously  I  was  walking  through 
the  wood  with  bowed  head. 

One  morning  in  early  June  as  my  sister  and  I  were  on 
our  way  to  friends  who  live  near  a  woodsy  place,  we  heard 
a  hermit  singing.  After  searching  we  were  surprised  to 
see  one  perched  on  a  trolley  wire.  We  stood  entranced 
when  we  saw  him  so  near  and  there  we  watched  and 
listened.  He  sang  in  the  contralto  register,  then  in  the 
mezzo,  and  finally  in  that  register  so  high  that  one  must  be 
near  to  catch  it. 

How  my  whole  being  was  thrilled,  for  he  sang  to  me 
as  Burroughs  says  "Oh  spheral,  spheral !  O  holy,  holy !" 
I  had  had  my  spiritual  uplift  for  the  day.  The  impres- 
sion made  on  me  that  he  sang  to  his  Maker  has  been 
expressed  by  Van  Dyke:  "A  hermit-hymn  poured  out 
for  God  to  hear !" 

Another  impression  that  he  was  singing  to  his  mate 
is  expressed  in  the  same  poem: 

"Little  love,  too,  forever,  ever  near, 
Warm  love,  earth  love,  tender  love  of  mine, 
In  the  leafy  dark  where  you  hide, 
You  are  mine — mine — mine !" 


2O  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

He  certainly  sang  for  no  applause,  for  on  seeing  us 
he  flew  to  the  ground  uttering  that  harsh  "peet"  his  note 
of  alarm. 

He  has  several  other  call-notes,  some  of  which  seem 
too  harsh  for  so  sweet  a  singer. 

The  vesper  hymn  of  the  hermit  is  the  last  song  of  the 
day  and  in  mid-summer,  when  the  robin  has  lost  some  of 
its  exuberance,  it  "opens  the  matutinal  chorus"  at  early 
dawn. 

Mathews  says:  "One  must  hear  the  melody  in  order 
to  fully  appreciate  its  subtle  beauty;  the  song  is  charm- 
ing because  of  its  spirituality  of  tone  and  its  depth  of 
expression." 

4.  (758a)  OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH 

A  migrant ;  not  common.  The  earliest  date  of  arrival 
that  I  have  is  May  19.  It  stops  a  few  days  or  a  week, 
then  goes  farther  north.  In  autumn  it  reappears  from 
the  middle  of  September  to  the  first  of  October  on 
its  way  south.  I  have  seen  one  September  16  and  one 
was  found  nearly  dead  October  16.  It  has  been  known 
to  nest  in  this  vicinity.  Its  song  "sweet,  clear  and 
liquid"  is  a  combination  of  the  hermit's  and  veery's. 
During  the  migration  of  1915  we  were  privileged  to  hear 
the  song. 

5.  (756)  WILSON'S  THRUSH;  VEERY 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  early  in  May, 
the  first  date  I  have  is  May  12,  but  it  has  been  reported 
earlier.  It  is  never  much  in  evidence  till  after  the  middle 
of  the  month  as  no  song  is  heard  till  the  birds  have  been 
here  a  few  days.  The  song  period  practically  ends  the 
last  of  July.  I  have  never  seen  this  thrush  after  Septem- 
ber 20,  but  it  has  been  reported  later.  According  to  Chap- 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  21 

man,  the  song  represents  the  word  vee-ry  repeated  several 
times  around  a  series  of  intertwining  circles. 

Van  Dyke  was  evidently  a  great  admirer  of  the  veery 
for  in  1895  he  wrote  the  following  poem: 

The  moonbeams  over  Arno's  vale  in  silver  flood  were  pouring, 
When  first  I  heard  the  nightingale  a  long-lost  love  deploring: 
So  passionate,  so  full  of  pain,  it  sounded  strange  and  eerie, 
I  longed  to  hear  a  simpler  strain,  the  wood-notes  of  the  veery. 

The  laverock  sings  a  bonny  lay,  above  the  Scottish  heather, 
It  sprinkles  from  the  dome  of  day  like  light  and  love  together; 
He  drops  the  golden  notes  to  greet  his  brooding  mate,  his  dearie ; 
I  only  know  one  song  more  sweet,  the  vespers  of  the  veery. 

In  English  gardens  green  and  bright,  and  rich  in  fruity  treasure, 
I've  heard  the  blackbird  with  delight  repeat  his  merry  measure; 
The  ballad  was  a  lively  one,  the  tune  was  loud  and  cheery, 
And  yet  with  every  setting  sun  I  listened  for  the  veery. 

0  far  away,  and  far  away,  the  tawny  thrush  is  singing, 

New  England  woods  at  close  of  day  with  that  clear  chant  are 

ringing ; 
And  when  my  light  of  life  is  low,  and  heart  and  flesh  are  weary, 

1  fain  would  hear,  before  I  go,  the  wood-notes  of  the  veery. 

— Henry  Van  Dyke. 

When  I  read  this  poem  I  feel  that  Van  Dyke  could 
never  have  known  the  song  of  the  hermit  thrush  as  we 
hear  it  in  its  nesting  places. 


6.     (755)   WOOD  THRUSH 

Extremely  rare ;  apparently  only  an  accidental  visitor. 
I  have  never  seen  this  species  but  during  some  spring 
migrations  it  has  been  seen  in  the  country  by  reliable 
observers.  Its  regular  place  of  nesting  is  south  of  Maine. 


22  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

FAMILY  KINGLETS 

7.     (749)   RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET 

Abundant  during  the  spring  and  autumn  migration. 
April  17  is  my  earliest  date  of  spring  arrival,  but  it  has 
been  reported  earlier.  It  is  seen  for  nearly  a  month  before 
proceeding  farther  north.  Returns  the  last  of  September 
and  is  quite  plentiful  during  the  middle  of  October.  My 
latest  date  of  seeing  one  is  November  i.  Chapman  says 
its  song  is  mellow  and  flute-like,  "loud  enough  to  be  heard 
several  yards;  an  intricate  warble  past  imitation  or 
description  and  rendered  so  admirably  that  I  never  hear 
it  now  without  feeling  an  impulse  to  applaud."  Audubon 
first  met  this  bird  in  Labrador.  After  a  specimen  had 
been  taken  and  he  held  it  in  his  hand  he  exclaimed  "And 
so  this  is  the  tiny  body  of  the  songster  from  which  came 
the  loud  notes  I  heard!"  He  writes  of  its  canary-like 
notes  that  are  more  beautiful  than  those  of  the  canary. 
I  never  watch  the  tiny  singer  but  I  think  what  a  wonder- 
ful throat  he  has  to  pour  forth  such  beautiful  music.  Its 
song  may  be  heard  in  the  autumn. 

8.  (748)   GOLDEN-CROWNED  KINGLET 

A  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  It  arrives  the  same  as 
the  preceding  species  but  does  not  tarry  so  long  before 
going  north.  Occasionally  one  is  seen  in  the  deep  woods 
in  winter  sometimes  in  the  company  of  chickadees.  In 
the  autumn  it  is  most  in  evidence  during  October.  My 
latest  date  of  observation  is  November  n. 

The  song  is  insignificant. 

FAMILY  TITS 

9.  (740)   HTJDSONIAN  CHICKADEE 

A  rare  accidental  fall  and  winter  visitant  from  the 
north.  I  saw  one  October  29,  1916,  and  others  were  seen 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  23 

about  that  time.     It  had  been  reported  one  year  before. 
Its  song  is  much  like  the  "black  cap"  only  more  "babyish." 

10.  (735)   BLACK-CAPPED  CHICKADEE 

A  permanent  resident.  In  September  they  leave  the 
woods  and  their  familiar  notes  may  be  heard  in  our 
orchards  and  gardens  near  the  city,  where  a  few  are  seen 
all  winter  except  in  extremely  cold  weather.  In  Febru- 
ary we  hear  their  sweet  phe-be  (this  note  may  be  heard 
in  all  the  winter  months  if  the  weather  is  mild)  remind- 
ing us  spring  is  coming.  Later  they  return  to  the  woods 
for  the  summer. 

"Thy  call  in  spring, 
As  'twould  accost  some  frivolous  wing, 
Crying  out  of  the  hazel  copse,  Phe-be! 
And  in  winter,  Chic-a-dee-dee ! 

— Emerson. 

In  March  and  even  later  a  beautiful  warble  song  may 
be  heard.  Our  most  common  winter  bird,  renowned  for 
its  sociability,  for  when  we  are  in  the  woods  it  always 
sings  for  us.  It  frequently  comes  to  our  homes  and  feeds 
from  our  hands.  After  a  ramble  through  the  pines  in  late 
November  with  a  literary  friend,  she  described  the  chick- 
adees in  a  nature  editorial  as  making  "music  like  some- 
body rubbing  a  finger  over  a  fine  silver  wire." 

It  is  to  be  presumed  in  the  case  of  birds  called  perma- 
ment  residents  that  they  are  not  represented  by  the  same 
individuals  the  entire  year  as  many  of  our  summer  resi- 
dents go  south  while  others  come  here  from  the  north  for 
the  winter. 

FAMILY  NUTHATCHES 

11.  (728)   BED-BREASTED   NUTHATCH 

A  permanent  resident;  more  abundant  in  the  spring 
and  in  autumn.  During  the  vernal  migration  it  is  more  in 


24  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

evidence  in  early  May.  In  September  it  leaves  the 
wood  and  we  hear  the  "yank  yank"  in  our  gardens  and 
trees  along  the  city  streets. 

12.  (727)   WHITE-BREASTED    NUTHATCH 

Resident  all  the  year;  most  common  in  autumn.  In 
the  spring  I  see  it  in  May,  but  October  is  the  month  asso- 
ciated with  this  nuthatch,  for  I  am  reminded  of  the  first 
time  I  met  with  it.  One  crisp,  sunshiny  October  morning 
we  saw  that  blue,  gray  and  white  color  scheme  running 
down  a  tree  trunk  at  the  entrance  of  Riverside  Cemetery 
and  it  followed  us  with  its  ((yank  yank"  to  the  bridge  over 
the  railroad. 

FAMILY  CREEPERS 

13.  (726)   BROWN  CREEPER 

A  spring  and  autumn  migrant ;  may  be  seen  during  the 
winter.  Arrives  April  10  and  after.  Some  years  quite 
common  and  seen  till  the  last  of  May.  It  returns  in  late 
September  (once  I  saw  one  in  August)  and  disappears  by 
November.  A  party  of  us  saw  and  heard  one  at  River- 
side Cemetery  January  24,  1915.  The  song  is  a  fine  sis. 
In  spring  a  tiny  warble  is  sometimes  added. 

FAMILY  WRENS 

14.  (722)   WINTER  WREN 

A  rare  migrant.  Seen  in  the  vernal  migration  from 
the  middle  to  last  of  April  and  in  autumn  during  October 
and  November.  My  fall  date  is  October  6  and  I  heard 
one  sing  April  29.  The  song  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
and  surprising  of  all  our  songsters.  Wilcox  says  it  is 
"exquisite  and  brilliant,  one  of  the  rarest  of  our  sylvan 
melodies."  There  is  a  quality  that  reminds  me  of  the  song 
of  the  ruby-crowned  kinglet  and  also  of  a  sylvan  strain 
of  the  Canadian  warbler. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  25 

15.  (721)  HOUSE  WREN 

A  summer  resident.  Usually  arrives  about  the  mid- 
dle of  May. 

It  has  been  a  very  irregular  resident  in  this  locality. 
Some  years  ago  they  were  here,  then  followed  several 
seasons  when  none  were  seen.  As  birds  return  to  the  same 
locality,  we  could  explain  their  absence  from  Lewiston 
only  in  one  way,  that  ours  were  lost  in  their  migration. 
In  the  summers  of  1914-15-16  a  few  pairs  nested  either 
in  Lewiston  or  Auburn.  During  the  summer  of  1917  the 
song  of  several  house  wrens  was  one  of  the  pleasures  of 
bird-lovers.  We  hope  they  will  continue  to  visit  us  for  a 
house  wren  in  the  garden,  the  good  fortune  of  one  of 
my  friends,  is  a  great  delight.  The  interpretation  by  one 
of  our  devoted  bird-lovers  of  the  song  of  the  wren  was 
that  its  throat  bubbled  over  with  music.  One  May  morn- 
ing we  heard  just  such  a  song  and  following  the  sound 
had  our  introduction  to  a  house  wren.  It  has  also  a 
scolding  note.  I  have  heard  one  singing  as  late  as  Sep- 
tember 14,  but  the  regular  song  period  closes  the  latter 
part  of  August.  Two  broods  are  reared.  The  latest  I 
have  seen  this  species  is  September  16,  although  it  has 
been  reported  later. 

FAMILY  THRASHERS  AND  MOCKINGBIRDS 

16.  (705)  BROWN  THRASHER 

A  common  summer  resident.  The  earliest  date  of 
arrival  I  have  is  April  27.  It  remains  into  September,  my 
latest  date  being  September  12,  but  it  has  been  reported 
as  late  as  September  30.  Its  song  is  "loud,  rich  and  won- 
derfully varied,"  said  to  consist  of  twenty-two  distinct 
phrases.  Audubon  says  it  "mounts  the  topmost  twig  of 
a  detached  tree"  where  it  will  sing  for  hours  at  a  time, 


26  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

"several  cadences,  all  so  full  of  sweetness  and  melody." 
While  the  song  period  ends  the  last  of  July  another  bird- 
lover  and  I  were  surprised  to  hear  one  sing  August  31, 
1916,  as  we  enjoyed  an  early  morning  walk. 

"He  sings  each  song  twice  over 
Lest  you  should  think  he  never  could  recapture 
That  first  fine  careless  rapture !" 

17.  (704)  CATBIRD 

A  common  summer  resident.  My  earliest  date  of 
its  arrival  is  May  9 ;  a  few  days  later  is  when  we  usually 
expect  it.  The  latest  I  have  seen  this  species  is  October  10. 
It  is  the  only  mockingbird  in  the  north.  Sometimes  it  is 
difficult  to  distinguish  the  song  from  that  of  the  brown 
thrasher,  yet,  if  one  stops  to  listen  closely,  he  will  discover 
that  the  catbird's  song  is  less  varied.  It  pours  forth  its 
music  from  a  lower  limb  on  a  bush.  I  have  heard  one 
sing  in  the  night.  Its  name  is  from  the  call-note  resem- 
bling the  mew  of  a  cat.  The  song  is  heard  less  frequently 
after  the  last  of  July. 

18.  (703)  MOCKINGBIRD 

I  have  never  seen  a  Mockingbird,  but  one  was  in  the 
city  during  a  winter.  It  was  observed  taking  spiders 
from  their  nests  under  the  eaves  of  one  of  the  houses. 
There  was  a  mystery  where  it  could  have  come  from  as 
its  feathers  or  plumage  showed  no  signs  of  having  been 
kept  in  a  cage. 

One  was  about  Portland  during  the  winter  of  1917. 

FAMILY  TITLARKS 

19.  (697)  AMERIC AN  PIPIT;  TITLARK 

A  rare  migrant  usually  seen  in  the  autumn  near  and 
on  plowed  ground  from  the  last  of  September  to  the  first 
of  November.  My  only  date  is  October  21,  1917. 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  27 

FAMILY  WARBLERS 

(PROPERLY  WOOD-WARBLERS) 

20.  (687)   AMERICAN  REDSTART 

A  very  common  summer  resident.  May  9  is  the 
earliest  I  have  seen  this  species  and  it  remains  into  Sep- 
tember. I  heard  one  sing  September  4  and  saw  a  few 
September  14.  Blanchan's  interpretation  of  the  song  is 
"Zee-zee-zeet!"  Sometimes  I  have  heard  a  warble  song. 

21.  (686)   CANADIAN  WARBLER 

A  fairly  common  migrant;  occasionally  nests  in  this 
neighborhood.  Arrives  the  middle  of  May  (May  19  the 
earliest  date  I  have  recorded)  and  may  be  found  for  two 
weeks.  If  the  season  is  backward  I  have  seen  this  war- 
bler migrating  the  first  week  in  June.  Its  autumnal  flight 
is  early — the  last  of  August  or  first  of  September.  One 
of  my  most  interesting  experiences  with  the  songs  of 
birds  was  during  an  afternoon  in  May.  As  we  walked 
along  a  country  road,  we  heard  a  most  beautiful  song  in 
a  brush  heap.  I  went  through  tangle  and  underbrush  to 
reach  the  spot  but  found  no  bird.  Silently  it  had  stolen 
away.  But  I  must  know  what  bird  could  sing  like  that, 
and  a  few  days  later  a  party  of  us  went  to  the  bird  re- 
treat. We  had  scarcely  reached  the  place  when  that  jubi- 
lant outburst  of  sylvan  melody  greeted  our  ears,  so 
like  a  canary  but  more  beautiful  and  as  Chapman 
says,  sweet,  loud  and  spirited.  One  member  of  the 
party  crawled  cautiously  down  over  old  tree  trunks, 
undergrowth  and  damp  places.  Soon  I  caught  a  glimpse 
in  a  nearby  tree  of  the  necklace  of  a  Canadian  warbler 
singing  the  song  familiar  to  me.  This  gave  a  suggestion 
and  I  passed  the  word  along.  Soon  the  reply  came  back, 
"Yes,  it's  the  Canadian  for  I  saw  the  gray  back  as  the  bird 


28  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

sang."     What  a  victory  we  had  achieved  on  this  ramble 
only  those  who  have  had  the  experience  can  know ! 

I  hear  this  warbler's  song  into  August  which  is  later 
than  most  sing. 

22.  (685)   WILSON'S  WARBLER 

A  migrant,  some  years  very  rare  and  some  years  quite 
a  few  are  seen  from  about  May  20  till  the  first  of  June. 
One  year  I  saw  it  as  late  as  June  n.  One  of  the  first 
warblers  to  return  from  the  north  during  the  autumnal 
migration.  It  is  seldom  seen  later  than  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember. Hoffman  says  its  song  suggests  that  of  the  Yel- 
low Warbler;  "it  is  briefer,  less  lively,  and  ends  in  some 
rapidly  delivered  notes."  A  very  restless  little  bird,  diffi- 
cult to  observe. 

23.  (681)   MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT 

A  common  summer  resident.  Sometimes  seen  the 
first  of  May  but  the  usual  time  of  arrival  is  the  middle  of 
the  month.  It  remains  till  the  latter  part  of  September, 
my  latest  date  of  seeing  one  being  September  30.  I  have 
heard  its  "witchity-witchity-witchity"  till  into  August. 
In  the  autumn  I  have  seen  this  species  on  dry  places  under 
trees.  It  is  one  of  the  warblers  that  rears  two  broods 
and  generally  nests  on  the  ground,  using  the  coarsest 
material  of  any  warbler. 

24.  (679)   MOURNING  WARBLER 

A  very  rare  migrant.  I  saw  one  June  24,  1917,  in  the 
southerly  part  of  Turner.  Whether  its  being  there  at 
that  time  indicated  that  it  was  nesting  or  had  been  left 
behind,  I  am  unable  to  say.  It  is  reported  by  one  bird 
observer  to  be  here  with  the  warbler  migration  arriving 
from  the  middle  to  the  last  of  May. 


Birds  of  Lewist  on- Auburn  29 

25.  (678)  CONNECTICUT   WARBLER 

I  have  never  seen  this  warbler  but  reliable  observers 
have  reported  it  mostly  during  the  autumnal  migration  in 
September.  Possibly  it  may  be  found  in  the  vernal 
migration. 

26.  (675)  WATER-THRUSH;  WATER  WAGTAIL 

A  rather  rare  migrant.  It  arrives  the  first  of  May 
(May  5  my  earliest  date)  and  departs  in  September. 
Knight  reports  seeing  it  as  late  as  September  25.  I  have 
found  it  nesting  in  the  southern  part  of  Turner  where  I 
always  hear  a  loud,  clear,  rollicking  warble  near  a  brook, 
louder  than  any  other  bird  song  in  that  location.  The 
bird  is  seldom  seen  but  I  hear  the  song  as  late  as  the  first 
of  August.  It  is  a  walker,  wading  in  shallow  water  and 
constantly  wagging  its  tail.  Nearly  every  spring  some 
bird-student  sees  one  at  Jepson's  brook  in  Riverside  Cem- 
etery, but  its  stay  in  this  vicinity  is  always  brief. 

27.  (674)  OVEN-BIRD;   GOLDEN-CROWNED  THRUSH 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident.  May  9  and 
September  17  are  the  earliest  and  latest  dates  that  I  have 
observed  one,  but  it  has  been  reported  later  in  the  autumn. 

It  usually  sings  from  a  high  limb.  At  other  times  it 
may  be  seen  walking  over  dry  leaves  or  along  some  low 
limb.  The  song  ceases  the  latter  part  of  July. 

Its  loud  song,  Teacher,  TEACHER,  TEACHER, 
reminds  me  of  a  perfect  crescendo.  One  morning  we 
heard  an  oven-bird  sing  teacher  and  instead  of  completing 
the  crescendo  sing  such  a  lovely  strain  that  others  of  the 
party  declared  it  was  the  purple  finch.  A  few  days  later 
my  nephew  asked  what  bird  it  was  that  began  its  song 
like  the  oven-bird  but  ended  it  differently.  His  question 
set  me  investigating.  I  found  Burroughs  called  it  his  love 


3O  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

song.  Chapman  says,  "If  there  be  such  a  thing  as  inspir- 
ation I  believe  the  oven-bird  sings  under  its  influence,"  and 
quotes  Mr.  Bicknell,  "he  bursts  forth  with  a  wild  outpour- 
ing of  intricate  and  melodious  song,"  the  very  force  of 
which  carries  him  up  into  the  air  among  the  tree  tops. 
This  was  the  song  we  heard  that  spring  morning  though  it 
is  usually  sung  at  evening. 

28.  (672a)  YELLOW-PALM  WARBLER;  YELLOW  RED- 

POLL 

A  migrant ;  some  years  very  common.  Our  first  war- 
bler to  arrive  in  the  vernal  migration  and  the  last,  except- 
ing a  few  myrtles,  to  leave  in  the  autumn.  It  may  be  seen 
from  April  12  to  the  first  of  May.  It  reappears  in  the 
autumn  from  the  last  of  September  to  the  last  of  October, 
my  latest  date  being  October  28.  It  seldom  sings  in 
migration  but  one  spring  we  were  favored  with  a  few 
trills  and  a  warble  at  the  end  of  the  tiny  song. 

29.  (671)  PINE    WARBLER;     PINE    CREEPING    WAR- 

BLER 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  just 
after  mid- April,  my  earliest  record  being  April  19.  Usu- 
ally the  second  warbler  to  be  seen  during  the  spring 
migration.  It  is  found  mostly  in  pine  trees  where  it  sings 
those  trills  so  much  like  the  Chipping  Sparrow.  During 
the  first  days  after  arrival,  it  may  be  found  on  the  ground 
and  creeping  over  tree  trunks.  I  have  seen  one  as  late 
as  October  5,  but  the  greater  number  migrate  in  Septem- 
ber. It  sings  less  towards  the  last  of  July,  but  I  have 
heard  the  song  in  mid-September. 

30.  (667)  BLACK-THROATED   GREEN   WARBLER 

A  summer  resident  in  evergreen  growth;  more  abund- 
ant in  the  spring  and  autumn  migrations.     Arrives  early 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  31 

in  May,  the  earliest  I  have  seen  one  being  May  7.  It  is 
quite  numerous  till  after  the  middle  of  the  month  and  I 
have  seen  it  on  David's  Mountain  the  first  of  June.  In 
September  it  is  much  in  evidence  again.  My  latest  date 
of  seeing  one  is  October  10. 

Its  song  is  a  drawling,  wheezy  tone  with  a  musical  note 
in  the  middle  of  the  strain.  When  I  hear  its  pastoral 
music,  I  feel  like  saying,  the  oboe  of  the  sylvan  orchestra. 

As  most  warblers  rear  but  one  brood  the  song  period 
is  brief  and  by  the  last  of  June  there  is  a  change  in  their 
songs  and  family  life,  but  this  species  is  one  of  the  war- 
blers that  sings  well  into  the  summer. 

31 .  (662)   BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER 

A  somewhat  rare  migrant;  occasionally  nests  in  this 
locality.  I  saw  one  just  north  of  Lake  Auburn  in  nest- 
ing time.  My  record  gives  the  earliest  date  of  arrival  as 
May  19,  but  it  has  been  reported  earlier.  The  cold  spring 
of  1917  none  were  seen  till  the  last  days  of  May,  so  that 
I  saw  one  on  David's  Mountain  that  year  as  late  as  June  7. 
From  my  observation  this  warbler  enjoys  the  tip  end  of 
an  evergreen  tree.  One  of  the  most  interesting  sights 
was  this  color  scheme  of  black,  white  and  grey  on  the  back 
and  the  beautiful  orange  of  the  throat,  performing  acro- 
batic feats  on  the  tiptop  of  a  spruce.  The  declining 
June  sun  shining  on  bird  and  tree  made  a  good  subject 
for  an  artist. 

32.  (661)   BLACK-POLL  WARBLER 

A  somewhat  common  migrant.  The  last  warbler  to 
arrive  during  the  vernal  migration.  It  may  be  seen  after 
May  20,  but  is  more  numerous  the  last  days  of  May  and 
first  of  June.  About  the  middle  of  September  flocks  of 
these  warblers  reappear  in  changed  plumage  of  greenish 


32  Birds  of  Lewis  ton- Auburn 

streaked  with  black  above  and  yellowish  underneath. 
They  usually  leave  by  the  last  of  September,  my  latest 
date  being  September  28.  The  song  is  an  insignificant 
metallic  tsee,  tsee. 

33.  (660)   BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER 

A  rare  migrant;  more  common  in  1916  and  1917.  It 
arrives  the  last  of  May,  my  earliest  record  being  May  26, 
but  it  has  been  seen  earlier.  In  the  autumn  it  may  be 
found  during  September.  A  reliable  observer  saw  one 
in  Riverside  Cemetery  August  13,  1916,  indicating  an 
early  move  southward.  To  an  enthusiastic  bird-student 
nothing  is  so  alluring  as  the  quest  for  a  rare  bird.  There 
is  no  rest  for  the  eager  pursuer  till  the  bird  is  seen.  This 
was  my  experience  with  the  Bay-breasted  Warbler  till  the 
spring  migration  of  1915  when  the  pursuit  was  ended. 

34.  (659)   CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER 

A  summer  resident  arriving  about  the  middle  of  May. 
It  departs  in  September,  my  latest  date  being  September 
14.  It  has  more  varied  songs  than  any  other  warbler 
I  have  heard.  One  bird-lover  has  verified  Mathew's 
interpretation,  "I  wish  to  see  Miss  Beecher."  Its 
most  common  song  begins  like  the  yellow  warbler  and 
ends  like  the  redstart.  Their  yellow  crown  patch,  "snowy 
bosoms  and  pretty  chestnut  lacings"  are  a  cheerful  sight. 

35.  (657)  MAGNOLIA  WARBLER;  BLACK  AND  YEL- 

LOW WARBLER 

This  beautiful  warbler  is  a  migrant  with  us  seen  chiefly 
during  the  spring  migration.  It  occasionally  nests  in  this 
vicinity.  I  have  seen  one  as  early  as  May  9  but  the  usual 
time  of  arrival  is  about  the  2Oth  and  after.  I  have  never 
found  one  during  the  autumnal  flight,  but  Knight  reports 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  33 

it  as  leaving  in  September.  It  has  a  warble  song  in 
early  spring,  but  later  the  note  is  more  like  the  sound  of 
an  insect. 

36.  (655)      MYRTLE     WARBLER;      YELLOW-RUMPED 

WARBLER 

Our  most  common  warbler  during  the  spring  and 
autumn  migrations.  A  few  nest  here.  It  may  be  seen 
any  time  during  the  last  week  in  April.  In  the  autumn 
it  reappears  in  flocks  by  mid-September.  It  is  now  in 
fall  plumage,  the  principal  marking  being  the  yellow 
rump.  It  is  the  last  warbler  to  migrate  south,  October  28 
being  my  latest  date.  According  to  Knight  a  few  have 
been  seen  along  the  coast  during  the  winter  months.  In 
late  November  Professor  Baird  went  to  the  lighthouse  at 
Cape  May  to  observe  the  migration.  In  the  morning 
after  a  severe  storm  several  hundred  of  these  warblers 
were  found  dead. 

The  bird  has  several  songs  that  keep  the  observer  on 
the  alert. 

37.  (654)   BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER 

A  fairly  common  migrant.  I  saw  one  as  early  as  May 
9  but  it  is  more  in  evidence  later.  A  few  may  be  seen 
till  the  last  of  the  month. 

The  latest  I  have  seen  this  warbler  is  September  6. 

The  song  is  "one  of  the  most  languid  and  unhurried 
sounds  in  all  the  woods."  The  resemblance  to  the  dron- 
ing of  bees  was  impressed  on  me  one  beautiful  June 
morning  as  I  watched  one  on  David's  Mountain  fly  from 
low  bush  to  low  bush  in  the  morning  sunshine,  all  the 
time  singing  its  characteristic  hoarse  song. 

38.  (652)   YELLOW  WARBLER;  SUMMER  YELLOWBIRD 

A  very  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  first  of 
May  unless  delayed  as  in  the  cold  spring  of  1917.  Its 


34  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

"golden  little  body"  may  be  seen  fluttering  through  the 
shrubs  and  trees  about  our  streets  and  homes  which  it 
enlivens  with  its  familiar  notes.  It  also  frequents  the 
shrubbery  in  wet  places.  I  heard  one  sing  as  late  as  Sep- 
tember 23  which  was  either  a  second  song  or  a  young 
male  trying  his  voice.  Nearly  all  have  migrated  before 
October. 

39.  (650)   CAPE  MAY  WABBLEK 

An  extremely  rare  migrant.  May  27,  1916,  I  saw  one 
and  the  college  class  saw  a  pair.  A  few  were  seen  in 
1917,  so  it  may  become  more  common. 

40.  (648a)  NORTHERN   PARULA   WARBLER 

Chiefly  a  common  migrant.  Arrives  the  first  of 
May  (May  7  my  earliest  date)  and  tarries  two  weeks. 
Occasionally  one  is  seen  the  last  of  the  month.  Its  nest 
made  in  usnea  is  found  in  swampy  places,  Sabattus  Pond 
being  a  favorite  spot.  It  begins  to  move  southward  the 
last  of  August  and  many  are  seen  from  the  middle  to  the 
last  of  September. 

41.  (647)   TENNESSEE  WARBLEB 

A  migrant  that  has  become  quite  common  in  the  spring 
migration.  It  usually  arrives  the  last  of  May,  but  is  occa- 
sionally reported  earlier.  It  has  been  remarked  as  a  very 
rare  occurrence  for  birds  of  like  genus  to  resemble  each 
other  so  nearly  in  song  as  does  this  warbler  and  the  Nash- 
ville. Reed  calls  it  "a  simple  ditty  similar  to  that  of  the 
Chipping  Sparrow."  It  has  been  known  to  nest  in  this 
locality. 

42.  (645)   NASHVILLE  WABBLER 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident.  The  earliest 
I  have  seen  this  warbler  is  May  7.  One  was  in  Auburn 
September  25,  1917,  probably  about  the  last  to  migrate. 

Its  song  resembles  that  of  the  yellow  warbler. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  35 

43.  (636)  BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 

A  common  summer  resident  arriving  the  last  of  April. 
Its  song  reminds  me  of  the  "riling  tone"  of  a  saw.  I 
have  seen  one  as  late  as  September  16  and  it  has  been 
reported  the  last  of  September. 

FAMILY  VIREOS 

44.  (629)   BLUE-HEADED    VIREO;     SOLITARY    VIREO 

OR  GREENLET 

A  migrant ;  not  very  common.  It  has  been  known  to 
nest  in  this  neighborhood.  It  is  the  first  vireo  to  arrive 
during  the  vernal  migration,  the  earliest  date  I  have  being 
May  6.  The  song  has  some  quality  of  the  Red-eye  but  is 
more  varied  and  musical.  I  hear  this  vireo  in  nesting  time 
at  South  Turner.  In  the  autumn  I  have  seen  it  migrating 
from  the  middle  of  September  to  October  7. 

45.  (628)   YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO  OR  GREENLET 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  early 
in  May  (my  earliest  date  May  9). 

Sometimes  its  harsh  note  is  heard  in  the  shade  trees 
along  the  street  as  well  as  in  the  open  wood.  Coues 
says  "The  hanging  basket  in  which  the  Greenlet  cradles 
its  hopes  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  pensile 
structures  which  birds  of  this  family  fabricate,  being  ele- 
gantly stuccoed  with  lichens,  like  a  Humming-bird's."  It 
has  a  beautiful  fringe  of  birch  bark.  I  have  heard  the 
song  as  late  as  September  12  and  the  latest  I  have  seen  the 
bird  is  September  14. 

46.  (627)   WARBLING  VIREO  OR  GREENLET 

A  rather  common  summer  resident  in  the  elm  trees 
along  the  city  streets.  Coues  describes  them  as  "gentle, 
silvery-tongued  creatures."  Its  song  is  a  true  warble 


36  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

varying  but  little  through  the  day.  It  is  easily  confused 
with  that  of  the  purple  finch  but  is  less  varied  and  not  so 
rich  in  quality.  It  arrives  early  in  May,  my  earliest  record 
being  May  9,  but  it  is  more  common  a  few  days  later. 

I  heard  one  sing  September  18  which  was  its  second 
song  just  before  departing. 

47.  (626)   PHILADELPHIA  VIBEO  OB  GBEENLET 

I  have  never  seen  this  vireo,  for  it  is  an  extremely  rare 
summer  resident.  One  of  our  best  authorities  on  birds 
has  discovered  it  nesting  here  and  has  also  heard  its  song. 

48.  (624)   RED-EYED  VIBEO  OB  GBEENLET 

A  very  common  summer  resident.  The  last  of  the 
family  to  arrive.  Usually  seen  the  latter  part  of  May, 
but  one  year  it  was  observed  May  19.  It  is  found  in 
every  piece  of  high,  open  woods.  Its  song  is  heard  day 
after  day  in  the  shade  trees.  All  day  and  all  summer  it 
repeats  over  and  over  the  same  few  notes.  I  have  heard 
the  song  as  late  as  September  10.  A  bird  lover  who  keeps 
a  back  yard  list  saw  it  on  her  lawn  after  the  middle  of 
September,  1917. 

FAMILY  SHRIKES 

49.  (622e)   MIGBANT  SHBIKE 

According  to  the  A.  O.  U.  check  list  the  Loggerhead 
Shrike  is  found  in  the  south  and  the  one  that  is  here  in 
the  summer  is  the  Migrant.  A  rather  rare  summer  resi- 
dent ;  smaller  than  the  following  species.  Hoffman  says 
the  Northern  Shrike  is  here  between  October  and  April, 
consequently  it  is  safe  to  call  one  seen  in  other  months  the 
Migrant.  It  builds  a  large  and  conspicuous  nest.  The 
spring  I  saw  it  we  were  favored  with  a  few  musical 
strains,  but  its  call-notes  are  harsh. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  37 

50.  (621)   NORTHERN  SHRIKE;  BUTCHER  BIRD 

A  winter  resident;  not  common.  It  arrives  from  the 
north  during  October  and  returns  the  first  of  April. 
Occasionally  it  sings  even  in  the  winter,  but  more  often 
in  February  and  March  a  medley  of  harsh  calls  inter- 
spersed with  some  sweet  notes  suggesting  the  song  of  the 
Catbird.  It  perches  on  the  top  of  some  tree  or  bush. 
Nuttall  speaks  of  its  mimicking  other  birds  so  that  in 
some  parts  of  New  England  it  has  been  called  a  Mocking-  , 
bird.  He  also  heard  one  "employed  in  a  low  and  Hljfr 
warble"  and  one  of  our  bird-lovers  has  heard  this  per- 
formance in  the  trees  near  her  home  as  well  as  the  notes 
resembling  the  Catbird's  song.  April  5,  1917,  I  heard  one 
mimicking  grackles.  Its  usual  note  is  harsh  and  grating. 

FAMILY  WAXWINGS 

51.  (619)  CEDAR  WAXWING;  CHERRY  BIRD 

A  summer  resident.  Occasionally  a  few  are  seen  in 
the  winter  or  early  spring.  The  migrants  arrive  the  last 
of  May.  The  earliest  date  I  have  is  May  20.  It  nests 
one  of  the  latest  of  our  summer  residents,  the  latter  part 
of  June  or  first  of  July,  and  often  rears  two  broods.  The 
song  is  a  lisping  note.  October  9,  1917,  I  saw  a  small 
flock  evidently  preparing  to  go  south. 

FAMILY  SWALLOWS 

52.  (616)  BANK  SWALLOW 

A  very  abundant  summer  resident  where  there  are 
sand  banks.  It  has  been  reported  at  Lake  Auburn  as 
early  as  April  19,  but  I  never  see  it  at  the  nesting  places 
near  Riverside  Cemetery  till  the  first  of  May.  In  August 
it  gathers  with  other  swallows  at  roosting  places  and 
departs  the  first  of  September. 


38  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

53.  (614)   TREE   SWALLOW;    WHITE-BELLIED   SWAL- 

LOW 

A  summer  resident;  the  first  of  the  family  to  come. 
It  may  be  seen  the  middle  of  April  and  departs  in  Sep- 
tember. It  builds  its  nest  in  holes  of  trees,  and  in  the  bird 
boxes  near  our  homes.  One  July  15  we  saw  a  family 
scattered  over  the  branches  of  an  old  apple  tree  taking  life 
very  easily.  Soon  they  would  be  flocking  with  others  of 
their  kindred.  The  songs  of  all  swallows  except  the  mar- 
tins are  twitterings  but  this  species  sometimes  indulges  in 
a  tiny  warble. 

54.  (613)   BARN  SWALLOW 

An  abundant  summer  resident  about  barns.  Arrives 
any  time  on  and  after  April  19.  In  company  with  other 
swallows  it  is  seen  "fringing"  the  telegraph  wires  in 
August  and  by  early  September  it  is  migrating.  Occa- 
sionally a  few  are  here  later  and  one  year  a  "left  behind" 
was  seen  in  December. 

55.  (612)   EAVE  SWALLOW;  CLIFF  SWALLOW 

A  summer  resident  nesting  under  the  eaves  of  build- 
ings. In  the  west  the  nests  are  on  the  cliffs.  It  arrives 
early  in  May  and  leaves  the  first  of  September. 

56.  (611)   PURPLE  MARTIN 

A  common  summer  resident  nesting  only  in  "martin" 
houses  in  this  vicinity.  Arrives  the  middle  of  April.  Its 
animated  musical  chatter  may  often  be  heard  in  the  morn- 
ing earlier  than  the  robin's  song.  It  usually  leaves  the 
houses  in  August  and  flocks  in  company  with  other  swal- 
lows till  the  first  of  September  when  nearly  all  migrate. 
As  is  characteristic  of  the  family  a  pair  may  remain  later 
to  rear  young,  either  a  second  brood  or  a  brood  to  take  the 
place  of  one  that  may  have  been  destroyed. 

I  have  heard  the  song  as  late  as  September  15. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  39 

FAMILY   TANAGERS 

57.  (608)   SCARLET  TANAGER 

The  most  of  the  Tanagers  we  see  are  migrants,  but 
occasionally  one  nests  in  this  vicinity.  I  have  seen  it  at 
Mt.  Apatite  and  near  the  Auburn-Turner  boundary.  It 
may  be  expected  about  May  20.  I  shall  long  remember 
one  May  morning  when  a  party  of  us  were  looking  for 
birds  near  Riverside  Cemetery.  Suddenly  one,  with  the 
keenest  eyes  of  our  observers,  exclaimed,  "The  Scarlet 
Tanager !" 

In  a  short  time  everyone  within  the  sound  of  our  voices 
had  seen  the  brilliant  bird  that  awakens  activity  among 
bird  lovers.  Before  night  probably  nearly  every  one  knew 
that  the  tanager  was  here  and  all  interested  were  out  in 
full  force  the  next  morning  to  find  it.  Perhaps  they  were 
successful  in  their  search  and  possibly  it  was  not  seen 
again,  for  some  years  its  stay  is  brief.  Each  spring  the 
same  excitement  is  repeated  when  some  one  observes  the 
only  bird  we  have  with  the  tropical  plumage.  During 
spring  migrations  it  has  been  known  to  be  on  David's 
Mountain  several  days  in  succession.  The  song,  a  burst 
of  rich,  sweet  melody,  is  the  quality  of  the  robin's,  but 
more  brief. 

FAMILY  FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 

58.  (598)   INDIGO  BUNTING 

A  somewhat  rare  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  last 
of  May.  This  charming  bird,  a  study  in  blue,  sings  its 
vivacious  song  hour  after  hour  even  through  the  intense 
heat  of  a  summer  day,  perched  upon  a  wire  or  top  of  a 
low  tree. 

I  have  heard  it  as  late  as  the  middle  of  August,  the 
bird  having  kept  in  song  since  its  arrival. 


40  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

59.  (595)   BOSE-BBE  ASTED  GBOSBEAK 

Summer  resident.  I  have  seen  one  as  early  as  May 
10,  but  it  is  more  common  later.  The  passage  south  is  in 
September,  the  I4th  being  my  latest  date.  It  sings  till 
the  last  of  July,  a  song  similar  to  that  of  the  robin — 
somewhat  less  varied,  using  the  same  strain  over  and 
over. 

60.  (587)   TOWHEE;  CHE  WINK 

A  rare  summer  resident.  This  is  about  the  northern 
limit  of  its  migration.  I  have  seen  these  birds  at  Mt 
Apatite  and  along  the  Turner  Road  in  North  Auburn.  It 
appears  early  in  May  (May  7  my  earliest  date)  and 
departs  late  in  September.  It  sings  occasionally  as  late  as 
the  first  of  September  and  I  have  heard  its  call-note  Sep- 
tember 25th.  This  is  one  of  the  birds  that  gave  me  more 
than  one  year  of  excursions  for  its  identification. 

61.  (585)  FOX  SPABBOW 

A  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Some  years  it  may  be 
seen  for  two  weeks  after  its  arrival  the  last  of  March. 
Other  years  its  stay  may  be  brief.  In  autumn  it  is  about 
the  last  migrant  to  return  from  the  north,  arriving  here 
the  last  of  October  and  departing  the  last  of  November. 
It  has  been  known  to  sing  during  the  fall  migration. 

I  cannot  forget  hearing,  one  April  morning  after  a 
rain,  the  beautiful  whistles  from  a  flock  that  had  arrived 
during  the  night.  Blanchan  says  it  is  the  most  welcome 
"glad  surprise"  of  all  the  spring.  Such  a  song  at  such  a 
time,  the  bleak  days  of  early  spring,  is  enough  to  summon 
out  of  doors  anybody  with  a  musical  ear.  "His  voice  is 
loud,  clear  and  melodious,  his  notes  full,  rich  and  varied." 

62.  (584)  SWAMP  SPABBOW 

A  summer  resident ;  not  common.  It  arrives  the  first 
of  April.  I  have  heard  it  at  Lake  Auburn  and  Sabattus 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  41 

Pond.  One  might  think  that  a  chipping  sparrow  had  chosen 
a  home  in  the  marshes,  except  that  its  song  is  louder  and 
more  musical. 

63.     (581)  SONG  SPARROW 

A  very  common  summer  resident,  one  of  the  first 
spring  arrivals,  coming  in  full  song.  The  earliest  I  know 
of  one  being  seen  is  March  22.  This  sparrow  sings  more 
months  in  the  year  than  any  other  bird — in  wind  and  rain 
keeping  the  world  cheerful.  It  is  not  unusual  to  see  it 
in  November  and  it  has  been  found  in  the  winter.  I  have 
never  heard  the  song  after  October. 

Van  Dyke  has  described  this  singer  so  perfectly  that 
I  add  here  a  few  of  the  verses. 

"There  is  a  bird  I  know  so  well, 
It  seems  as  if  he  must  have  sung 
Beside  my  crib  when  I  was  young; 

He  comes  in  March,  when  winds  are  strong, 
And  snow  returns  to  hide  the  earth; 
But  still  he  warms  his  heart  with  mirth, 
And  waits  for  May.     He  lingers  long 
While  flowers  fade;  and  every  day, 
Repeats  his  small,  contented  lay, 
As  if  to  say,  we  need  not  fear 
The  season's  change  if  love  is  here 
With  'Sweet-sweet-sweet-very-merry-cheer.' 

.....«••• 
I  like  the  tune,  I  like  the  words ; 
They  seem  so  true,  so  free  from  art, 
So  friendly,  and  so  full  of  heart, 
That  if  but  one  of  all  the  birds 
Could  be  my  comrade  everywhere, 
My  little  brother  of  the  air, 
I'd  choose  the  song-sparrow,  my  dear, 
Because  he'd  bless  me,  every  year, 
With  'Sweet-sweet-sweet-very-merry-cheer.' " 


42  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

One  day  in  October  a  new  song  from  the  shrubbery 
near  a  brook  caught  my  ear.  I  searched  for  the  musician 
and  found  the  familiar  song  sparrow  with  a  new  tune.  I 
presume  it  is  the  song  of  an  immature  male  for  I  hear  that 
warble  each  autumn  in  the  low  places  which  the  song 
sparrow  frequents.  I  have  heard  one  sing  in  the  dusk  of 
early  morning  when  other  birds  were  still  sleeping. 

64.  (567)   SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO;   SNOWBIRD 
Chiefly  a  migrant.     It  has   been   known   to    nest   on 

David's  Mountain  but  the  regular  breeding  ground  is 
farther  north.  The  spring  passage  is  from  the  last  of 
March  to  the  first  of  May.  In  autumn  it  reappears  in 
September,  becomes  abundant  during  October  and  de- 
parts in  November.  A  few  may  be  seen  in  winter. 

While  its  song  resembles  that  of  the  chipping  sparrow, 
it  is  more  musical. 

65.  (563)  FIELD  SPARROW 

A  summer  resident,  not  common.  May  be  seen  any 
day  after  the  middle  of  April.  Flocks  of  these  sparrows 
appear  the  latter  part  of  September  and  nearly  all  have 
departed  by  the  middle  of  October.  The  latest  I  have 
seen  them  is  October  13.  Minot  says  "No  sounds  are 
more  refreshing  on  a  warm  afternoon  of  early  summer, 
than  those  which  they  produce."  Most  writers  speak  of 
their  wonderful  evening  song,  but  the  morning  song 
appeals  most  to  me,  being  associated  with  bright  sunshine, 
old  pastures  and  breakfast  out  of  doors. 

The  song,  a  few  notes  uttered  high  and  leisurely,  then 
running  very  rapidly  toward  the  close,  which  is  low  and 
sweet,  is  heard  till  the  last  of  August. 

66.  (560)  CHIPPING  SPARROW 

A  very  abundant  summer  resident.  Arrives  any  time 
after  the  middle  of  April.  It  may  be  seen  in  large  flocks 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  43 

migrating  the  middle  of  September  and  nearly  all  leave  in 
October.  I  have  found  one  as  late  as  November  14.  Like 
the  House  Wren  it  is  half  domesticated.  The  song  is  so 
common  that  every  one  with  any  knowledge  of  birds  is 
familiar  with  it.  Occasionally  one  is  heard  in  the  night. 
The  singing  grows  less  and  less  after  late  July. 

67.  (559)  THEE  SPARROW;  WINTER  CHIPPY 

A  winter  resident;  one  of  the  birds  that  frequents 
feeding  stations.  A  straggler  may  be  seen  in  September, 
but  its  regular  period  of  arrival  from  the  North  is  in 
October  and  November.  It  becomes  more  plentiful  with 
the  approach  of  spring  and  returns  to  its  nesting  ground 
in  April. 

My  introduction  to  a  flock  of  these  birds  was  one  win- 
ter afternoon  as  they  came  to  a  feeding  place  in  Auburn. 
They  lingered  till  after  sunset,  when  they  flew  together 
toward  the  roseate  hues  of  the  February  afterglow.  I 
have  spoken  of  its  song  in  the  chapter  Spring  Migration. 

68.  (558)    WHITE-THROATED    SPARROW 

A  summer  resident.  Arrives  early  in  April,  becomes 
plentiful  after  the  middle  of  the  month,  continuing  so  till 
the  latter  part  of  May  when  the  greater  number  go  farther 
north.  In  the  autumn  large  flocks  reappear  in  October. 
A  few  remain  till  November  and  it  may  be  seen  in  the 
winter.  Its  well-known  song  which  has  given  it  the  name 
"Peabody-bird"  is  one  of  the  sweetest  notes  of  bird  music. 
Winthrop  Packard's  interpretation,  "Oh,  happiness,  hap- 
piness, happiness,"  appeals  to  me.  The  song  which  is 
varied  by  different  individuals  is  so  simple  that  one  can 
whistle  a  good  imitation.  In  autumn  I  have  heard  the 
most  contented  gem  of  song  as  it  feeds  under  shrubbery. 
I  have  heard  one  at  peep  of  dawn  before  darkness  had 


44  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

lifted  from  the  earth.     Stewart  Edward  White  speaks  of 
hearing  this  bird  during  the  night. 

69.  (554)  WHITE-CROWNED  SPARROW 

A  migrant;  some  years  not  common  and  others  quite 
a  few  are  seen.  This  aristocrat  of  the  sparrow  family 
arrives  about  May  10  and  tarries  a  week  or  more  before 
going  north  for  the  summer.  It  reappears  in  October 
for  a  short  time  before  leaving.  The  song  is  similar  in 
quality  to  the  white-throats,  but  has  fewer  notes. 

70.  (542a)    SAVANNA  SPARROW 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident,  arriving  just 
after  the  middle  of  April.  Its  song  which  I  have  heard 
till  the  last  of  July  is  an  insignificant  warble  ending  with 
a  grasshopper-like  sound. 

71.  (540)    VESPER    SPARROW;     BAY- WINGED    BUNT- 

ING; GRASS  FINCH 

A  fairly  common  summer  resident,  arriving  about 
April  1 3th.  I  heard  one  sing  at  Mt.  Apatite  October  7. 
It  has  been  seen  in  the  winter.  Burroughs  describes  the 
song  of  this  musician  of  the  Finch  family  as  "two  or 
three  silver  notes  of  peace  and  rest  ending  in  some  sub- 
dued trills  and  quavers."  The  tendency  to  sing  at  sun- 
down has  given  it  the  poetic  name  of  "vesper-bird."  By 
the  first  of  August  this  sparrow  has  become  more  quiet 
and  I  miss  its  evening  song.  It  is  difficult  for  a  beginner 
to  distinguish  the  song  of  this  species  from  that  of  the 
song  sparrow. 

72.  (536)    LAPLAND  LONGSPUR 

I  have  never  seen  this  bird,  as  it  is  an  extremely  rare 
winter  visitant  but  several  years  ago  it  was  observed  in 
this  vicinity.  Two  years  ago  it  was  seen  in  company  with 
snow  buntings  and  alone.  Sometimes  it  is  found  in  com- 
pany with  horned  larks. 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  45 

73.  (534)    SNOWFLAKE;  SNOW  BUNTING 

A  common  winter  resident.  If  there  is  snow  it  may 
be  seen  late  in  October,  but  usually  the  period  of  arrival 
is  in  November.  It  is  quite  likely  to  be  seen  just  before 
and  during  snow  storms.  The  call  of  the  north  comes  in 
March.  One  season  I  saw  a  few  April  5  and  a  flock  was 
reported  April  9. 

74.  (533)    PINE  SISKIN ;  PINE  FINCH  OB  LINNET 

A  winter  resident,  rather  rare ;  one  winter  quite  plen- 
tiful when  they  were  in  the  trees  along  the  city  streets. 
Its  arrival  from  the  north  is  in  November.  Most  years 
the  call  of  spring  to  return  is  in  March. 

In  1917  a  flock  was  seen  near  David's  Mountain  for 
nearly  a  week  the  first  of  June — an  occurrence  never 
known  before.  It  was  reported  to  be  in  other  parts  of 
the  country  at  the  same  time.  The  note  "like  a  noise 
made  by  blowing  through  a  comb  covered  with  paper," 
helped  me  to  identify  the  bird. 

75.  (529)    AMERICAN   GOLDFINCH 

Most  of  this  species  are  summer  residents  arriving 
during  May  in  summer  plumage  and  departing  in  late 
autumn.  A  few  individuals  remain  through  the  winter 
when  they  are  in  dull  "flaxen"  attire,  the  change  having 
taken  place  in  late  fall.  It  is  gregarious  till  June  being 
one  of  the  last  birds  to  mate.  Nest  building  takes  place 
during  the  last  of  June  and  first  of  July.  Its  flight  song 
is  per-chic-o-ree  expressing  life  and  joy  as  it  undulates 
through  the  air.  Perched  upon  some  pole  or  tree  it  pours 
forth  a  beautiful  canary-like  song. 

76.  (528)    REDPOLL 

A  winter  resident,  some  seasons  quite  plenty.  I  have 
seen  it  as  early  as  November  5  but  the  first  of  December  is 


46  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

the  usual  time  of  arrival     The  North  calls  to  its  nesting 
ground  in  April. 

Soft  twitterings  and  musical  cherees  resembling  the 
notes  of  the  goldfinch  are  cheerful  sounds  on  a  winter  day. 

77.  (522)    WHITE- WINGED  CROSSBILL 

A  rare  and  very  irregular  visitant  more  often  seen  in 
the  autumn.  I  suppose  I  saw  two  immature  birds  Octo- 
ber 23,  1916,  at  a  bathing  place  south  of  Riverside  Ceme- 
tery. Some  seasons  it  has  been  quite  plentiful. 

78.  (521)    AMERICAN  CROSSBILL;  BED  CROSSBILL 

An  irregular,  erratic  visitant.  Seen  any  season  but 
more  frequently  in  spring  or  autumn.  It  rears  its  young 
in  the  woods  very  early. 

Olive  Thorne  Miller  says  of  the  crossbills  that  one 
season  they  make  glad  the  bird  student  in  one  place  and 
the  next  drive  him  to  despair  by  their  absence.  While 
this  crossbill  is  more  common  than  the  preceding  species, 
it  has  been  so  erratic  the  last  few  years  that  I  have  never 
seen  one.  Consequently  I  am  still  in  pursuit,  for  an 
enthusiastic  bird-student  must  sooner  or  later  solve  such 
problems. 

79.  (       )   ENGLISH  SPARROW;   HOUSE  SPARROW 

This  sparrow  was  introduced  from  Europe  between 
1850  and  1860.  It  has  made  very  wide  invasions  and  be- 
come a  much  berated  nuisance.  A  permanent  resident 
especially  in  the  city.  There  may  be  those  who  like 
to  witness  this  bird-life  in  winter,  but  bird-lovers  have 
no  use  for  an  English  Sparrow.  It  drives  other  birds 
away  that  formerly  nested  about  our  homes,  disfigures 
any  place  where  it  roosts  and  instead  of  making  musical 
sounds  (it  does  make  a  few  in  February  and  early 
spring)  utters  only  bickerings  and  quarrelsome  notes. 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  47 

80.  (517)    PURPLE  FINCH 

A  fairly  common  summer  resident.  Seen  some 
seasons  before  the  bluebird  and  robin  arrive;  others  it 
comes  late  in  April.  This  species  remains  till  November 
or  later  and  may  be  found  in  the  winter.  During  the 
autumn  flocks  of  these  birds,  mature  and  immature,  are 
seen  in  orchards,  as  the  fruit  of  the  pear  tree  is  a  favorite. 
Immature  males  and  females  are  sparrow  looking  birds, 
but  the  thick  bill  is  a  distinguishing  mark. 

March  16  I  heard  a  fine  rendering  of  finch  music  in  a 
tree  near  my  home.  The  song,  which  is  confused  with 
that  of  the  Warbling  Vireo,  is  a  burst  of  melody  and  more 
musical.  The  Warbling  Vireo  is  also  a  much  later  spring 
arrival.  One  May  afternoon  a  party  of  us  listened  as 
a  Purple  Finch  sang  a  most  beautiful  love  song.  Each 
exclaimed  over  its  exquisiteness.  It  is  one  of  our  finest 
singers.  Chapman  says  "his  song  is  a  sweet,  flowing 
warble,  music  as  natural  as  the  rippling  of  a  mountain 
brook." 

81.  '(515)   CANADIAN  PINE  GROSBEAK 

A  winter  visitant.  Its  arrival  from  the  North  has 
been  reported  the  last  of  October  but  its  appearance  is 
more  often  in  November  or  later.  During  April  it  feels 
the  call  of  spring  and  returns.  I  saw  two  in  the  woods 
April  29,  which  is  unusually  late.  None  were  reported  in 
this  vicinity  during  the  cold  winter  of  1918. 

These  birds  are  closely  associated  with  a  snow-shoe 
tramp  on  Stetson's  Brook  when  a  flock  of  mature  and  im- 
mature males  and  females  flew  into  some  evergreen  trees 
uttering  for  me  their  sweet  whistles  and  twitterings. 
Although  the  day  was  cold  and  blustering  the  tramp  home 
was  a  happy  one,  for  after  long  watching  and  much  pur- 
suit, I  had  seen  a  Pine  Grosbeak. 


4^  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

82.     (514)    EVENING   GROSBEAK 

An  irregular  winter  visitant.  In  1913  it  appeared  the 
last  of  the  winter.  In  1914  it  was  seen  in  January.  Two 
other  years  it  came  in  December  and  remained  into  May. 

This  bird  was  unknown  in  this  county  till  the  winter 
of  1889-90  when  one  was  taken  on  the  college  campus. 
None  were  seen  again  until  February,  1913,  when  two 
were  observed  by  one  of  our  careful  and  reliable  bird- 
students  near  her  home.  The  next  winter  a  flock  was 
about  the  home  of  an  Auburn  bird-lover,  the  first  one 
appearing  January  26.  We  who  failed  to  see  it  that  season 
were  disappointed  and  had  to  "learn  to  wait."  None 
were  reported  in  the  winter  of  1914-15.  From  an  article 
in  Bird-Lore,  May- June  1916:  December  31  (1915)  an 
immature  male  was  seen  in  the  trees  on  one  of  the  side 
streets  of  the  city.  A  few  days  later  flocks  of  eight  were 
reported  in  different  places.  Sometimes  they  would  stay 
three  or  four  hours,  but  usually  would  feed  a  short  time 
then  fly  away,  making  it  impossible  for  the  place  to  be 
reached  before  they  had  gone.  No  sooner  had  one  been 
seen  by  a  bird-lover  than  telephones  would  be  busy  noti- 
fying all  interested.  The  last  two  weeks  in  January  a 
flock  of  seventeen  visited  a  lawn  on  Auburn  Heights 
every  morning.  The  ground  being  bare,  they  fed  on  seeds 
that  had  fallen  from  a  tree.  A  little  snow  came  and  they 
disappeared.  When  the  lawn  was  bare  again,  the  flock 
returned  increased  to  thirty-five  or  more.  As  soon  as 
snow  came  in  February  small  flocks  were  seen  about  the 
residential  sections  of  the  city.  After  I  wrote  the  above 
the  birds  were  observed  as  late  as  May,  the  last  date  being 
May  7.  December  n,  1916,  they  came  again  and  were 
numerous  during  the  winter.  Seed  was  furnished  one 
flock  till  the  tenth  of  May.  It  is  uncertain  how  long  they 
would  have  remained  if  the  feeding  had  continued.  None 


Birds  of  Leivist  on- Auburn  49 

were  reported  after  May  24.  As  far  as  I  know,  this 
species  was  not  seen  in  this  locality  during  the  winter 
1917-18.  Bird-students  will  continue  to  watch  for  the 
coming  of  the  Evening  Grosbeaks  as  their  yellow,  black 
and  white  plumage  is  one  of  the  finest  sights  in  a  Maine 
winter. 

FAMILY  BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC. 

83.  ( 5 1 1  b )  BRONZED  GR  ACKLE ;  CROW  BLACKBIRD 

A  common  summer  resident  near  wet  places. 
Arrives  during  the  last  week  in  March  and  departs  late 
in  October.  More  plentiful  during  spring  and  autumn 
migrations  when  flocks  whistle  and  squeak  like  sign- 
boards. 

"The  blackbirds  clatt'rin'  in  tall  trees, 
An'  settlin'  things  in  windy  congresses." — Lowell. 

NOTE. — The  Crow  Blackbird  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York 
City  is  the  Purple  Crackle.  About  Boston  and  northward  it  is 
the  Bronzed  Crackle. 

84.  (509)    RUSTY  BLACKBIRD 

A  migrant ;  more  common  in  the  autumnal  than  in  the 
spring  migration.  Arrives  the  last  of  March  or  first  of 
April.  It  may  be  seen  about  two  weeks  before  going  to 
its  nesting  ground.  I  saw  a  few  April  22  which  is  late. 
The  last  of  September  and  first  of  October  it  reappears 
and  feeds  among  the  ripened  corn  shocks.  The  South 
calls  the  bird  away  the  latter  part  of  October. 

85.  (507)   BALTIMORE   ORIOLE;    GOLDEN   ROBIN 

A  summer  resident,  arriving  the  first  of  May  (May  7) 
and  leaving  the  first  of  September.  One  was  reported  on 
a  city  lawn  September  11. 

This  bird  sings  from  the  time  of  its  arrival  to  its  de- 
parture, although  the  song  perceptibly  wanes  late  in  July. 


50  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

The  oriole  is  a  bird  of  our  city  streets  and  lanes  as  well  as 
of  the  country.  After  the  young  have  flown  it  leaves  the 
nesting  locality  returning  only  at  intervals.  Coues  says : 
"This  is  one  of  our  famous  beauties  of  bird  life,  noted 
alike  for  its  flash  of  color,  its  assiduity  in  singing  and  its 
skill  at  the  loom."  Its  song  resembles  the  robin's  but  the 
whistles  are  loud  and  clear. 

86.  (501)  MEADOWLARK 

A  summer  resident;  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  spring 
arrivals,  being  heard  soon  after  the  bluebird  and  robin. 
It  remains  into  October,  my  latest  date  being  October  21. 
Some  of  the  college  professors  have  observed  it  in  the 
winter  months.  December  8,  1917,  a  flock  of  seven  was 
seen  above  the  college  and  about  that  time  it  was  reported 
in  other  localities.  One  remained  on  the  college  campus 
during  a  winter  and  perished  the  first  of  March.  Its  song 
is  a  beautiful  whistle  with  a  touch  of  plaintiveness 
described  by  Chapman  "clear  as  the  note  of  a  fife,  sweet 
as  the  tone  of  a  flute." 

87.  (498)    RED- WINGED  BLACKBIRD 

A  common  summer  resident  in  swampy  places. 
Arrives  any  time  after  the  middle  of  March  and  leaves 
the  last  of  October.  Its  o-ka-lee  is  a  pleasant  sound 
when  in  the  vicinity  of  ponds  and  marshes.  Chapman 
says  "when  a  red-winged  blackbird  is  seen  we  may  be 
sure  the  tide  of  the  year  has  turned  and  spring  has  come." 

88.  (495)    COWBIRD 

A  summer  resident.  The  first  of  April  is  the  time  to 
look  for  this  bird.  Although  not  likely  to  be  seen  in 
flocks,  for  several  days  in  the  spring  of  1917  fifty  or 
more  visited  the  northerly  side  of  David's  Mountain.  It 


Birds  of  Le  wist  on- Auburn  51 

is  our  only  parasite  and  that  flock  made  me  think  how 
many  foster-mothers  had  sacrificed  their  own  young  by 
feeding  these.  In  mating  time  it  makes  queer  contor- 
tions to  utter  its  squeaky  song. 

89.     (494)    BOBOLINK 

A  summer  resident  to  be  expected  May  9  or  later. 
Just  after  mid- July  the  song  ceases  and  the  nuptial  dress 
is  laid  aside  for  the  quieter  garb  of  the  female.  By  the 
first  of  August  it  is  wholly  changed.  I  saw  a  flock  in 
tawny  plumage  gathering  for  the  night  of  August  27  in 
Garcelon's  Bog.  Three  days  later  they  left  for  the  rice 
fields  of  the  South  where  they  are  a  pest.  Mabel  S.  Mer- 
rill says :  "The  sweet  magician  of  our  fields  is  the  bobo- 
link. He  is  an  enchanter  who  doesn't  need  even  to  wave 
a  wand.  Though  he  chose  to  sing  in  a  snowdrift,  you 
would  have  to  believe  it  was  June  when  you  heard  him, 
so  inwoven  is  that  music  with  memories  of  fields  of  shin- 
ing daisies,  billows  of  red  clover,  and  the  first  shadowy 
bluebells  afloat  on  a  feathery  sea  of  grass.  The  coming 
of  the  bobolink  is  always  an  event  to  us." 

Chapman  describes  the  song  as  "the  j  oiliest,  tinkling, 
rippling  song  that  ever  issued  from  a  bird's  throat." 

FAMILY  STARLINGS 

90.     (493)    STABLING 

The  Starling  was  introduced  from  Europe  into  Cen- 
tral Park  and  has  spread  over  much  territory.  None  have 
been  reported  here  till  the  last  of  March,  1917.  It  was 
seen  at  a  home  south  of  Riverside  Cemetery  near  the 
river.  Three  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Upper  Main  Street 
during  the  summer.  I  saw  them  April  24.  One  has 
since  been  seen  in  Auburn.  We  were  not  glad  to  have 
them  appear,  although  we  knew  they  would  arrive  sooner 
or  later. 


52  Birds  of  Lewis  ton- Auburn 

FAMILY  CROW,  JAYS,  ETC. 

91.  (488)    AMERICAN  CROW 

Crows  are  seen  mostly  from  February  till  late  fall. 
Probably  the  greater  number  of  those  we  see  during  the 
winter  fly  inland  from  the  coast  for  the  day.  When  they 
become  more  numerous  and  noisy  in  February  we  are 
reminded  that  spring  approaches.  It  makes  long  flights 
to  rookeries.  In  the  Bulletin  of  the  United  States 
National  Museum  Coues  speaks  of  the  flight  beginning 
early  in  the  afternoon  and  continuing  till  dark  of  each 
day.  They  return  at  early  dawn. 

Coues  also  says:  "Such  'roosts'  are  well  known  in 
various  parts  of  the  Eastern  United  States;  but  the 
impulse  whose  potency  forces  such  long  daily  journeys 
upon  the  birds  is  a  mystery  as  yet  unexplained."  Bird 
observers  in  this  vicinity  have  witnessed  these  flights 
toward  the  last  of  August  and  continuing  into  late 
autumn. 

92.  (477)    BLUE  JAY 

A  resident  all  the  year.  More  common  in  autumn 
and  winter.  It  is  a  bird  of  the  woodland  but  occasionally 
one  is  seen  near  David's  Mountain  and  Riverside  Ceme- 
tery. In  September  its  call,  jay,  jay,  is  a  harbinger  of 
autumn.  In  winter  the  blue  and  white  plumage  is  a  sight 
so  cheerful  over  the  landscape  that  we  can  forgive  bad 
habits.  It  utters  such  a  variety  of  different  noises  that  a 
frequenter  of  the  woods  once  said,  if  a  strange  note  is 
heard,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  it  is  a  Blue  Jay. 

FAMILY  LARKS 

93.  (474b)   PRAIRIE  HORNED  LARK 

A  summer  resident;  not  very  common.  Our  earliest 
spring  migrant  arriving  about  the  middle  of  February  or 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  53 

after.     In  autumn  I  have  seen  one  October  27,  but  it  may 
be  found  later. 

A  cheerful  sound  on  an  early  March  morning  before 
other  songsters  have  come,  is  to  hear  the  whistles  from  a 
flock  as  they  rise  and  fly  over  the  fields  still  spotted  with 
snow. 

94.  (474)  HORNED  LARK;  SHORE  LARK 

A  rare  migrant  seen  in  late  February  and  March  and 
again  in  October  and  November.  It  has  been  known  to 
be  here  in  the  winter.  My  only  observation  was  October 
27  as  a  flock  was  having  a  gala  time  burrowing  on  the 
sunny  side  of  a  plowed  field. 

FAMILY  FLYCATCHERS 

95.  (467)   LEAST  FLYCATCHER;   CHEBEC 

A  very  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  first  of 
May  (May  7)  and  leaves  in  September.  It  is  very  little 
in  evidence  in  August.  The  morning  of  arrival  we  hear 
the  jerky  song  che-bec.  In  mating  time  a  short  warble, 
almost  a  whisper  note,  may  be  heard. 

96.  (466a)    ALDER  FLYCATCHER 

A  somewhat  rare  summer  resident.  One  of  the  latest 
migrants,  arriving  the  last  of  May  or  first  of  June.  If 
there  is  plenty  of  insect  life  it  may  be  seen  till  October.  I 
heard  the  song,  probably  that  of  a  young  male,  Octo- 
ber 16. 

97.  (463)    YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER 

A  very  rare  migrant,  arriving  almost,  if  not  quite,  the 
latest  of  any  bird.  It  has  been  reported  May  23.  I  saw 
it  on  David's  Mountain,  June  5,  1917. 

One  year  an  excellent  observer  found  a  bird  of  this 
species  in  this  vicinity  the  middle  of  June.  The  fact  that 


54  Birds  of  Lewis t on- Auburn 

it  was  in  the  habitat  for  nesting  indicated  a  home  had 
been  made  there  for  that  season. 

98.  (461)    WOOD  PEWEE 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  last  of  May 
or  first  of  June  and  leaves  in  September.  I  saw  one  Sep- 
tember 16  and  occasionally  it  is  seen  later.  All  summer 
we  hear  its  sweet,  plaintive  pee-a-wee — a  restful  note,  dis- 
tinctly a  lullaby  and  a  true  sylvan  strain. 

Flycatchers  are  not  classed  as  singing  birds,  yet  the 
notes  of  this  species  are  of  the  sweetest  we  hear  whether 
we  walk  where  the  shade  trees  border  our  city  streets  or 
in  a  woodland.  Probably  more  poets  have  been  attracted 
by  this  sylvan  song  than  by  that  of  any  other  American 
bird  except  the  Hermit  or  Wood  Thrush. 

99.  (459)    OLIVE-SIDED  FLYCATCHER 

A  somewhat  rare  summer  resident  in  swampy  places. 
Arrives  the  middle  of  May  and  sings  its  pip,  pip-peu  from 
the  top  of  a  dead  tree.  Sometimes  the  call-note,  pip,  pip, 
reminds  me  of  the  quality  of  the  robin's  call. 

100.  (456)  PHCEBE;  BRIDGE  PEWEE 

A  summer  resident.  One  of  our  earliest  spring 
arrivals ;  to  be  expected  any  day  after  the  first  of  April. 
It  begins  its  nest  building  on  arrival  and  rears  two  broods. 
One  of  our  friendly  birds,  building  on  a  porch,  under  a 
bridge,  or  around  a  barn.  My  latest  date  of  seeing  one 
is  September  23 ;  it  has  been  seen  later.  Its  note,  phebe, 
gives  the  name. 

101.  (452)    CRESTED  FLYCATCHER 

A  very  rare  summer  resident  arriving  the  middle  of 
May.  It  nests  near  the  Auburn-Turner  boundary  and  at 
No  Name  Pond.  The  note  is  a  harsh  screech.  As  far  as 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  55 

my  friends  have  observed  it  selects  a  snake  skin  for  part 
of  its  nest. 

102.  (444)    KINGBIRD 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  first  of 
May  and  leaves  the  first  of  September.  It  may  be  seen 
later.  Just  before  the  autumn  migration  flocks  hold  car- 
nival with  the  flies. 

A  music  critic  has  observed  that  its  note  is  pitched 
higher  than  that  of  any  other  bird. 

ORDER    GOATSUCKERS,    SWIFTS,    HUM- 
MINGBIRDS, ETC. 

FAMILY  HUMMINGBIRDS 

103.  (428)    RUBY-THROATED    HUMMINGBIRD 

A  summer  resident  seen  about  our  flower  beds. 
Arrives  about  the  middle  of  May  and  remains  into  Sep- 
tember. My  latest  observation  is  September  12.  The 
only  hummingbird  known  east  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

Audubon  reports  another  species,  the  Mango,  found 
once  at  Florida  Keys.  So  far  as  we  know  there  is  no 
other  report  of  any  being  seen. 

"The  least  of  birds,  a  jewelled  sprite 
With  burnished  throat  and  needle  bill." 

Once  I  caught  a  tiny  note  but  usually  the  buzz  of 
wings  is  all  we  hear. 

FAMILY  SWIFTS 

104.     (423)    CHIMNEY  SWIFT 

A  very  abundant  summer  resident  arriving  in  flocks 
the  first  of  May.  It  chippers  continuously  till  late  August 
as  it  flies  overhead  and  departs  early  in  September.  It 


56  Birds  of  Lewiston- Auburn 

formerly  nested  in  hollow  trees  but  since  houses  have 
been  built,  occupies  chimneys  that  emit  no  smoke  in 
summer. 

FAMILY  NIGHTHAWKS,   WHIP-POOR-WILLS, 

ETC. 

105.  (420)    NIGHTHAWK 

A  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  middle  of  May,  May 
20  my  earliest  date,  and  leaves  the  first  of  September. 
It  nests  on  flat  roofs  of  city  blocks  as  well  as  in  the 
country.  It  is  not  nocturnal  like  the  following  species, 
for  it  goes  to  roost  the  same  as  other  birds  only  later.  In 
the  morning  its  harsh  peent  is  heard  before  the  morning 
chorus. 

106.  (417)    WHIP-POOR-WILL 

A  summer  resident,  arriving  any  time  from  the  10th  to 
the  middle  of  May  and  departing  the  last  of  September. 
Although  known  to  come  near  the  city  it  is  a  bird  of  the 
country.  The  song  has  been  reported  as  late  as  Septem- 
ber 23.  Being  nocturnal  it  is  more  often  heard  than  seen. 
Dusk  is  coming  on  before  the  song  begins,  which  may  be 
heard  at  intervals  through  the  night.  The  strains  of 
whip-poor-will  cease  at  early  dawn.  My  only  sight  of 
one  was  near  the  woodsy  growth  at  the  end  of  Winter 
Street  in  Auburn. 

ORDER  WOODPECKERS 
FAMILY   WOODPECKERS 

107.  (412a)   NORTHERN  FLICKER;  YELLOW-HAMMER 

An  abundant  summer  resident.  Arrives  about  the 
middle  of  April.  Stragglers  have  been  reported  the  last 
of  March.  During  the  autumnal  migration  it  becomes 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn  57 

numerous  the  last  of  September  and  first  of  October  and 
departs  the  latter  part  of  the  month.  My  latest  date  is 
October  14.  Occasionally  one  is  seen  in  November  and 
even  later. 

108.  (406)   RED-HEADED    WOODPECKER 

A  very  rare  migrant.  I  have  never  seen  this  species, 
but  it  was  on  the  college  campus  two  or  three  days  one 
spring  and  at  Riverside  Cemetery  several  years  ago.  One 
was  seen  the  first  of  May,  1917,  in  North  Auburn. 

109.  (405a)  NORTHERN     PILEATED     WOODPECKER; 

RAIN  CROW 

A  rare  resident.  In  woods  north  of  here  this  species 
is  quite  common.  Sometimes  a  pair  rear  their  young  in 
this  vicinity  where  there  are  thick  woods.  It  may  be 
seen  all  the  year,  but  is  more  in  evidence  in  autumn  and 
winter.  My  only  sight  of  one  was  June  29  at  South 
Turner.  I  heard  his  high-pitched,  ringing  call  before  I 
caught  a  glimpse  of  him. 

110.  (402)   YELLOW-BELLIED   SAPSUCKER 

A  rare  summer  resident  in  this  vicinity.  More 
abundant  during  the  spring  and  autumn  migrations.  In 
the  spring  it  may  be  seen  from  the  middle  of  April  to  the 
first  of  May.  Every  year  I  see  one  on  Patriots'  Day. 
The  middle  of  September  it  reappears  and  departs  in 
October.  A  squealing  cry  resembling  the  call  of  a  jay  is 
sometimes  heard ;  also  it  drums  like  other  woodpeckers. 

111.  (401)   AMERICAN     THREE-TOED     WOODPECKER 

A  very  rare  accidental  winter  visitor.  I  have  never 
seen  this  woodpecker  and  have  supposed  that  it  did  not 
come  so  far  south  but  have  recently  learned  that  several 
years  ago  it  was  seen  during  the  short  days  of  a  very  cold 
winter. 


5$  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

112.  (400)   ARCTIC  THREE-TOED  WOODPECKER 

A  rare  winter  visitant  arriving  from  the  north  very 
late  in  September  and  during  October.  It  remains  till 
early  spring.  My  first  study  of  one  was  on  October  6. 

113.  (394c)  DOWNY  WOODPECKER 

A  permanent  resident;  more  abundant  in  the  spring 
and  autumn.  A  visitor  at  feeding  places  within  the  city 
limits  during  the  winter.  Its  drumming  is  heard  in  the 
mating  season;  it  utters  a  shrill  cry  with  a  rapid  falling 
inflection. 

114.  (393)  HAIRY  WOODPECKER 

A  permanent  resident ;  not  as  common  as  the  preceding 
species,  being  seen  more  in  wooded  districts  where  its 
young  is  reared.  During  the  seasons  of  migration  it  may 
be  seen  nearer  the  city.  In  winter  it  often  comes  to  the 
feeding  stations  of  my  friends  living  in  the  suburbs. 
Its  note  resembles  the  Downy's  but  is  somewhat  heavier. 

ORDER  CUCKOOS,  KINGFISHERS,  ETC. 
FAMILY  KINGFISHERS 

115.  (390)   BELTED  KINGFISHER 

A  summer  resident  arriving  the  first  of  April  and 
remaining  into  late  autumn.  My  latest  date  is  October 
17;  stragglers  have  been  reported  in  the  winter  months. 
Several  pairs  nest  on  the  banks  of  various  streams. 
Their  "watchman's  rattle"  as  they  fly  calls  attention  to 
them. 

FAMILY  CUCKOOS 

116.  (388)  BLACK-BILLED  CUCKOO 

A  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  middle  of  May  and 
departs  in  October.  I  heard  one  in  an  orchard  October  6. 
Cuckoos  pick  the  hairy  caterpillars  out  of  their  web-like 
nests  for  food. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  59 

117.     (387)  YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO 

A  very  rare  summer  resident.  This  species,  whose 
natural  habitat  is  farther  south,  I  have  never  seen  but  it 
has  been  known  to  nest  in  this  vicinity. 

REMARKS 

There  has  been  one  report  of  the  Bohemian  Waxwing.  As 
it  is  a  winter  rover  of  uncertain  habits,  it  may  be  found  and  it 
may  never  be  seen  again.  There  have  been  reports  of  its  casual 
appearance  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  especially  near  Bangor. 

The  Canada  Jay  has  been  taken  in  Sumner,  Maine,  and  has 
been  seen  nearer  this  vicinity.  To  my  knowledge  there  is  no 
record  of  its  being  found  about  Lewiston  or  Auburn. 

There  have  been  several  reports  of  the  Orchard  Oriole  and 
once  I  thought  I  saw  a  two-year-old  male.  I  have  not  been  able 
to  get  sufficient  proof  of  its  identity  to  include  it  in  my  catalogue. 


ORDER  BIRDS  OF  PREY 

FAMILY  HORNED  OWLS 

Most  owls  are  dwellers  of  the  deep  forest.  For  this 
reason  few  are  seen  in  this  vicinity.  Specimens  of  each 
of  the  following  species  have  been  taken  in  this  neighbor- 
hood and  are  in  collections  here.  The  Screech  Owl  is 
the  only  one  I  have  observed.  , 

118.  (377a)  AMERICAN  HAWK  OWL 

A  rare  winter  visitant. 

119.  (376)  SNOWY  OWL 

An  irregular  winter  visitant. 

120.  (375)   GREAT  HORNED  OWL 

A  permanent  resident.  Often  builds  its  nest  in  Feb- 
ruary. A  specimen  was  taken  at  Lisbon  in  the  autumn 
of  1917.  Several  years  ago  a  nest  was  found  on  the 


60  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

Sabattus  River  in  April  containing  young  owls.  It  was 
about  seventy  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  yellow  birch 
tree. 

121 .  (373)  SCREECH  OWL ;  MOTTLED  OWL 

A  common  permanent  resident. 

June  10, 1915,  a  nature  lover  and  I  were  looking  across 
Jepson's  Brook  at  the  sunset.  Suddenly  she  exclaimed 
"Owls !"  There  they  were — a  family  perched  on  differ- 
ent limbs.  They  remained  in  that  locality  several  days 
till  nearly  all  interested  had  seen  them. 

Some  Screech  Owls  are  gray,  others  reddish  brown. 

122.  (372)   SAW- WHET   OWL;    ACADIAN   OWL 

This  smallest  of  the  family  is  a  common  permanent 
resident,  seen  mostly  in  the  autumn  and  winter.  One  was 
taken  in  a  barn  near  the  North  Auburn  road  in  January, 
1918. 

123.  (371)  RICHARDSON'S  OWL 

A  rare  fall  and  winter  visitant. 

124.  (370)  GREAT  GRAY  OWL 

An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant. 

125.  (368)   BARRED   OWL 

A  permanent  resident ;  most  common  of  the  large  owls. 
It  has  been  reported  more  than  any  other  except  the 
Screech  Owl.  In  December,  1916,  one  was  observed  near 
the  "Logan"  in  Auburn. 

126.  (367)   SHORT-EARED  OWL 

A  somewhat  rare  summer  resident.  Nests  in  some 
lonely  marsh  or  meadow,  Farwell's  Bog  being  one  place  to 
find  it. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  61 

127.  (366)   AMERICAN  LONG-EARED  OWL 

A  fairly  common  summer  resident.  This  species  has 
been  taken  in  the  spring  and  fall  and  found  nesting  in  the 
summer.  One  season  a  nest  was  discovered  at  South 
Lewiston  built  in  an  old  crow's  nest  which  had  been 
repaired  and  filled.  It  was  sixty  feet  from  the  ground 
in  an  evergreen  tree. 

FAMILY  FALCONS,  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC. 

128.  (364)  AMERICAN  OSPREY;  FISH  HAWK 

A  summer  resident  nesting  near  ponds  and  lakes.  It 
arrives  the  middle  of  April  and  departs  the  first  of  Octo- 
ber. Every  spring  one  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "Logan" 
in  Auburn.  I  have  seen  it  at  Lake  Auburn  and  Sabattus. 

129.  (360)  AMERICAN  SPARROW  HAWK 

A  common  summer  resident.  The  time  of  arrival  is 
just  before  the  bluebird  and  robin.  Most  years  the  time 
of  departure  is  late  in  September.  In  August  I  had  a 
study  of  a  family  near  the  Stetson  Road. 

130.  (357)   PIGEON  HAWK 

A  fairly  common  migrant.  Seen  the  last  of  March  or 
early  in  April  and  soon  passes  farther  north  to  nest. 

I  have  never  identified  this  or  the  following  species, 
but  other  bird-students  have  taken  them  so  I  include  them 
in  my  list. 

131.  (356a)  DUCK  HAWK 

An  extremely  rare  migrant,  reported  as  early  as  April 
10. 

132.  (352)   BALD  EAGLE 

This  beautiful  bird  is  seen  daily  flying  over  the  lakes 
and  the  river  during  the  summer  from  the  first  of  June 
till  into  the  autumn.  Hence  a  proper  inference  is  that  it 


62  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

nests  in  this  neighborhood,  though  no  nest  has  been  found 
to  my  knowledge.  One  August  morning  a  beautiful 
mature  male  circled  very  low  over  Riverside  Cemetery. 

133.  (347a)  AMERICAN  BOUGH-LEGGED  HAWK 

An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant,  consequently  I 
could  hardly  expect  to  see  one,  but  it  has  been  in  this 
locality. 

134.  (343)  BROAD-WINGED  HAWK 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the 
last  of  March  and  departing  by  early  October.  I  have 
made  several  attempts  to  find  this  hawk  but  have  not 
succeeded  in  identifying  one. 

135.  (339)  BED-SHOULDEBED   HAWK;    HEN   HAWK 

A  fairly  common  summer  resident.  Seen  from  the 
last  of  March  till  the  last  of  October ;  the  21st  I  saw  one 
sailing  over  Taylor  Pond. 

136.  (337)   BED-TAILED   HAWK;    HEN   HAWK 

A  summer  resident;  not  as  common  as  the  preceding 
species.  Arrives  the  last  of  March  or  the  first  of  April 
and  leaves  the  last  of  October.  During  July  and  August, 
1917,  I  saw  two  immature  birds  at  South  Turner. 

137.  (334)  AMEBICAN  GOSHAWK 

A  rare  winter  visitant;  occasionally  somewhat  com- 
mon. Arrives  from  the  north  in  October  (one  was 
reported  September  28,  1917).  December  3  is  my  date  of 
identification. 

138.  (333)  COOPEB'S  HAWK 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  first  of 
April  and  leaves  the  latter  part  of  September  or  first  of 
October.  It  has  been  found  in  winter.  September  when 
hawks  are  more  plentiful  has  been  my  time  of  making  its 
acquaintance. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  63 

139.  (332)  SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last  of 
March  or  first  of  April  and  departing  in  late  September 
or  October,  but  stragglers  are  seen  in  the  winter.  Sep- 
tember is  the  month  when  I  usually  see  this  species. 

140.  (331)  MARSH  HAWK 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last  of 
March  or  first  of  April  and  leaving  in  October.  My  latest 
observation  is  October  24.  Seen  mostly  flying  low  over 
marshes. 

ORDER  PIGEONS  AND  DOVES 
FAMILY  PIGEONS  AND  DOVES 

141.  (316)  MOURNING  DOVE 

A  very  rare  migrant.  I  have  never  seen  one,  but  dur- 
ing the  May  migration  in  1916  a  pair  were  seen  near  the 
"Power  House"  in  Turner.  June  5  1917,  one  was  In 
North  Auburn  and  the  last  of  July,  1917,  it  was  observed 
in  the  south-eastern  part  of  Lewiston. 

Note 

PASSENGER  PIGEON. — Years  ago  this  pigeon  was  very  abundant 
in  this  locality.  After  1880  it  became  more  and  more  rare  and  is 
extinct  now.  The  last  one  in  the  country  died  in  September, 
1915. 

Tame  Doves  are  called  city  pigeons.  They  are  thought  to  be 
all  derived  from  the  blue  rock  pigeon  (Columba  Livia). 

None  were  ever  seen  in  this  city. 

ORDER  GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS 
FAMILY  GROUSE 

142.  ( 3  0  0  a )  CANADIAN  BUFFED  GROUSE ;  PARTRIDGE 

A  permanent  resident  in  the  woodsy  sections  of  this 
vicinity.  In  spring  it  drums  whir!  whir!  whir!  The 


64  Birds  of  Lewist  on- Auburn 

startling  sound  of  a  partridge  in  winter  makes  one  feel 
the  presence  of  life  when  walking  through  the  wood  in  a 
snow  storm. 

NOTE. — Bob-white,  or  Quail,  has  appeared  in  Maine  but  none 
in  this  vicinity. 

An  English  Pheasant  has  been  in  Waterboro  and  three  in 
Springvale,  Maine,  this  winter,  1918,  coming  to  houses  for  food. 
It  is  advancing  this  way  from  Massachusetts  where  it  was  intro- 
duced and  no  doubt  some  day  will  be  in  this  vicinity.  A  strange 
bird  has  been  reported  here  whose  description  was  that  of  a 
pheasant,  but  I  have  no  proof  of  one  being  in  this  neighborhood. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  65 


WATER  BIRDS 

List  of  water  birds  I  have  identified.  Following  is  a 
list  of  those  identified  by  other  observers. 

ORDER  SHORE  BIRDS 
FAMILY  PLOVERS 

143.  (274)   SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER;  RING-NECK 

A  migrant.  My  observation  of  this  bird  was  on  the 
coast,  but  it  is  found  at  Sabattus  Pond  and  Lake  Auburn 
chiefly  in  the  autumn. 

FAMILY  SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS 

144.  (263)  SPOTTED  SANDPIPER 

A  somewhat  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  the 
first  of  May  and  remains  till  October.  My  latest  date  of 
seeing  this  species  is  October  n. 

145.  (256)   SOLITARY  SANDPIPER 

A  somewhat  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  I 
found  one  August  31,  1917,  around  a  mud  pond  south  of 
Riverside  Cemetery.  It  remained  till  September  12. 

146.  (255)  YELLOW-LEGS;     SUMMER     YELLOW-LEGS 

A  migrant,  somewhat  rare.  Resembles  the  following 
species  so  closely  (the  difference  being  in  size)  that  I  am 
uncertain  which  I  saw  October  28. 

147.  (254)  GREATER   YELLOW-LEGS;    WINTER    YEL- 

LOW LEGS 

A  migrant,  somewhat  rare.  October  28  I  saw  a  yel- 
low-legs which  I  listed  as  this  one. 

148.  (248)  SANDERLING 

A  migrant.     In  the  autumn  a  few  are  seen  at  Sabattus. 


66  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

149.  (246)   SEMEPALMATED  SANDPIPER 

A  migrant.  In  autumn  these  birds  have  been  taken  at 
Sabattus. 

150.  (242)  LEAST  SANDPIPER 

A  migrant.  This  is  one  of  the  many  sandpipers  found 
at  Sabattus  Pond.  It  has  been  seen  at  Lake  Auburn. 
My  observation  of  the  last  three  species  was  at  the  coast. 

151.  (228)  WOODCOCK 

A  summer  resident ;  not  as  common  as  in  former  years. 
Arrives  as  soon  as  the  ground  thaws  enough  to  probe  its 
bill  in  the  mud ;  the  latter  part  of  March  or  first  of  April. 
My  latest  date  of  observation  is  October  16,  but  it  has 
been  seen  later. 

ORDER  HERONS 
FAMILY  HERONS  AND  BITTERNS 

152.  (201)   GREEN  HERON 

A  rare  summer  resident.  Arrives  the  first  of  May. 
It  nests  near  the  "Logan"  in  Auburn  and  at  Sabattus. 
May  6  I  saw  one  flying  to  Jepson's  Brook  in  the  cemetery 
where  it  was  seen  the  next  morning  by  the  college  class. 

153.  (194)   GREAT  BLUE  HERON 

A  rare  summer  resident;  seen  from  the  middle  of 
April  to  the  first  of  May  or  later  at  Lake  Auburn  and 
along  the  Androscoggin  River  and  again  in  August 
when  the  move  southward  begins.  The  latter  part  of 
October  is  the  time  of  departure.  One  year  a  "left 
behind"  was  seen  in  December. 

154.  (190)   AMERICAN  BITTERN;  MARSH  HEN;  STAKE 

DRIVER 

A  summer  resident,  arriving  the  middle  of  May.  The 
first  of  October  is  the  time  for  going  to  its  winter  home. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  67 

ORDER  LAMELLIROSTRAL  SWIMMERS 
FAMILY  DUCKS,  GEESE  AND  SWANS 

NOTE. — For  the  very  unusual  appearance  of  Whistling  Swans 
see  at  the  end  of  this  list. 

155.  (172)   CANADA  GOOSE 

A  migrant  the  last  of  March  and  first  of  April.  The 
V-shaped  flock  is  seen  more  often  about  the  tenth  of 
April.  In  the  fall  it  flies  south  about  Thanksgiving.  A 
flock  was  seen  October  13  1917,  which  is  unusually  early. 

156.  (167)   BUDDY  DUCK 

A  fairly  common  migrant.  April  n,  1915,  a  party  of 
us  saw  this  and  the  following  species  fly  up  from  Jepson's 
Brook  in  Riverside  Cemetery. 

157.  (151)   AMERICAN   GOLDEN   EYE;    WHISTLER 

A  fairly  common  migrant. 

158.  (133)   BLACK  DUCK 

A  rare  summer  resident.  A  few  are  seen  in  the 
spring  but  the  fall  is  the  time  when  abundant.  It  arrives 
the  first  of  April  and  begins  to  move  southward  in  August. 

159.  (129)   AMERICAN    MERGANSER;    SHELDRAKE 

A  somewhat  common  migrant.  Arrives  the  last  of 
March  or  first  of  April  and  leaves  in  late  autumn.  I  saw 
one  November  17.  It  has  been  known  to  be  in  the  river 
during  the  winter  months  if  there  is  open  water. 

ORDER  LONG-WINGED  SWIMMERS 
FAMILY  TERNS  AND  GULLS 

160.  (51)   HERRING  GULL 

A  summer  resident  along  inland  water  but  I  know  of 
no  record  of  its  nesting  in  this  vicinity.  During  the  win- 
ter months  one  may  be  seen  sailing  over  the  river.  In 


68  Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 

March  it  becomes  quite  abundant  and  may  be  observed  all 
summer.  My  earliest  date  is  February  28  and  latest 
November  17. 

ORDER  DIVING  BIRDS 
FAMILY  LOONS 

161.     (7)  LOON;  GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER 

Fairly  common  during  the  vernal  and  autumnal  migra- 
tions. A  few  nest  in  this  vicinity.  I  have  seen  it  as 
early  as  April  22. 

WHISTLING  SWAN 

The  last  of  October  1917,  a  daily  observer  of  birds 
saw  a  flock  of  forty-nine  Whistling  Swans  fly  over  Lake 
Auburn.  Doubtless  they  alighted  in  the  lake,  their  "flag- 
eolet-like" notes  being  heard  for  some  little  time.  Octo- 
ber 27  three  appeared  at  Kezar  Pond  near  Fryeburg, 
Maine,  and  the  next  day  twenty-eight  were  there.  Two 
were  captured  and  sent  to  the  State  Museum  at  Augusta: 
These  birds  are  very  rare  in  New  England.  To  my 
knowledge  there  is  no  report  of  any  having  been  pre- 
viously seen  in  this  vicinity. 


Birds  of  Le  wist  on- Auburn  69 


REMARKS 

Probably  few  have  an  adequate  idea  of  the  number  of 
birds  that  may  be  seen  in  this  vicinity.  Of  the  one  hun- 
dred sixty-one  birds  in  the  catalogue  I  have  personally 
identified  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  divided  as  fol- 
lows: 

Singing,  Songless  Birds,  etc.,  108 

Birds  of  Prey  and  Game  Birds  1 1 

Water  Birds  18 

All  have  been  seen  no  farther  away  than  Greene,  Tur- 
ner and  Lisbon,  except  four  water  birds  that  I  studied  at 
the  seashore  and  which  I  might  have  found  at  Sabattus 
or  Lake  Auburn.  Doubtless  most  of  these  may  be  seen 
throughout  the  county.  In  the  northern  section  I  should 
expect  to  find  birds  that  belong  to  the  Canadian  Zone 
(Lewiston  and  Auburn  are  in  the  Transition  or  Alleghe- 
nian  Zone)  which  are  not  included  in  this  catalogue. 

By  making  special  effort  during  my  last  year  of 
observation  for  this  pamphlet  I  identified  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  different  species.  A  bird-student  could 
hardly  expect  to  see  as  many  unless  there  was  some  object 
in  view. 

When  one  of  Professor  Stanton's  class  in  ornithology 
brought  in  a  list  of  seventy  different  birds  seen  between 
Thanksgiving  and  Commencement,  he  considered  that 
good  work  had  been  done.  If  a  student  had  identified 
from  seventy-five  to  eighty  the  work  was  excellent. 


70  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

WATER  BIRDS  CONTINUED 

List  pf  water  birds  identified  by  careful  observers  and 
most  of  the  species  taken  at  Lake  Auburn,  Sabattus  Pond 
or  along  the  Androscoggin  River. 

I  desire  to  express  my  appreciation  to  those  who  have 
contributed  the  information  which  has  made  this  list  pos- 
sible and  reliable. 

KILLDEER 

A  rare  summer  resident. 

AMERICAN  GOLDEN  PLOVER 

Formerly  a  fairly  common  fall  migrant  now  some- 
what rare. 

BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVER;  BEETLE-HEAD 

A  common  migrant. 

BARTRAMIAN  SANDPIPER;   UPLAND  PLOVER 

At  one  time  a  common  summer  resident;  now 
extremely  rare. 

RED-BACKED  SANDPIPER;  DUNLIN 

Accidental.     One  taken  at  Sabattus. 

WHITE-RUMPED  SANDPIPER 

A  migrant. 

PECTORAL  SANDPIPER;  GRASS  BIRD 

A  common  migrant. 

WILSON'S  SNIPE;  AMERICAN  SNIPE;  JACK  SNIPE 

A  common  migrant. 

WILSON'S  PHALAROPE 

Accidental.     One  shot  at  Sabattus  October,  1906. 

AMERICAN  COOT 

A  migrant;  not  as  common  as  in  previous  years. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  71 

FLORIDA  GALLINULE 

A  rare  migrant. 

PURPLE  GALLINULE 

A  straggler  wholly  beyond  its  normal  range.  One 
taken  at  South  Lewiston  April  n,  1897. 

SORA;  CAROLINA  RAIL 

A  summer  resident. 

VIRGINIA  RAIL 

A  summer  resident ;  more  common  than  the  preceding 
species. 

BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON 

It  may  be  a  summer  resident  as  it  has  been  seen  at 
Sabattus  the  first  of  September. 

LEAST  BITTERN 

A  rare  summer  resident. 

SURF  SCOTER 

A  fairly  common  migrant  in  the  fall. 

WHITE-WINGED  SCOTER 

A  migrant.  If  there  is  a  bad  storm  on  the  coast  these 
birds  may  be  seen  inland  during  October  and  November. 
AMERICAN  SCOTER 

A  fairly  common  migrant  in  autumn. 

HARLEQUIN 

Accidental.  One  taken  early  in  the  spring  from  the 
Androscoggin  River. 

OLD  SQUAW 

A  migrant,  seen  mostly  in  autumn. 

BUFFLE-HEAD 

A  fairly  common  spring  and  fall  migrant. 


72  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

LESSER  SCAUP  DUCK;  LITTLE  BLUE-BILL 

A  fairly  common  migrant. 

SCAUP  DUCK;  BLUE-BILL 

A  migrant. 

BEDHEAD 

A  very  rare  migrant. 

WOOD  DUCK 

Formerly  a  common  summer  resident ;  now  rare. 

PINTAIL 

A  rare  migrant. 

BLUE- WINGED  TEAL 

A  fairly  common  migrant. 

GREEN- WINGED  TEAL 

A  fairly  common  migrant. 

HOODED  MERGANSER 

A  migrant ;  not  very  common. 

RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER 

Some  years  a  common  migrant  in  the  autumn. 

LEACH'S  PETREL 

A  migrant. 

ARCTIC  TERN 

The  Arctic  Tern  has  been  seen  at  Androscoggin  Lake. 

COMMON  TERN;  SEA  SWALLOW 

Accidental.  Reported  once  at  Lake  Auburn.  It  is 
seen  on  Androscoggin  and  other  inland  lakes.  I  have 
seen  these  birds  at  the  coast. 

BONAPARTE'S  GULL 

Accidental.     One  taken  at  Sabattus,  one  at  Turner. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  73 

BBIJNNICH'S  MUBBE 

It  has  been  taken  at  Lake  Auburn  and  one  was  taken 
at  Greene  in  January  1918. 

BLACK  GUILLEMOT;  SEA  PIGEON 

Once  after  a  heavy  storm  this  species  was  seen  at 
Lake  Auburn  which  is  entirely  out  of  its  normal  range  at 
the  sea-coast  where  I  have  seen  it. 

PIED-BILLED  GBEBE;  HELL-DIVEB 

A  common  summer  resident. 

HOBNED  GBEBE 

A  migrant ;  not  common. 

HOLBCEL'S    GBEBE 

A  rare  migrant. 

NOTE. — I  am  not  acquainted  with  the  water  birds  of  Andro- 
scoggin  Lake  or  other  ponds  in  the  county.  There  may  be  other 
species  found  that  are  not  in  this  list. 


74  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

A  GUIDE  TO  THE  ARRIVAL  OF  BIRDS 

The  dates  given  below  are  only  intended  to  give  the 
approximate  time  of  arrival.  They  must  not  be  taken  too 
strictly  as  temperature  and  food  conditions  have  much  to 
do  with  the  time  of  migrations.  During  December,  Jan- 
uary and  February  any  of  the  birds  mentioned  in  the 
chapter  "Winter  Birds,"  may  be  seen  if  one  is  in  the  right 
locality. 

The  last  of  February  to  the  middle  of  March,  prairie 
horned  larks,  horned  larks  (crows  and  winter  birds  are 
more  numerous)  and  some  straggler  of  the  spring  arrivals 
may  be  found. 

March  15  to  April  I 

Hawks  Bronzed  Crackle 

Bluebird  Rusty  Blackbird 

Robin  Fox  Sparrow 

Song  Sparrow  Ducks 

Meadowlark  Canada  Goose 

Red-winged  Blackbird  Woodcock 

Junco  Purple  Finch      > 

Herring  Gull  may  be  seen.  ) 

April  i  to  10 

Phoebe  White-throated  Sparrow  ) 

Brown  Creeper  )          may  be  seen  ) 

more  plentiful  later  on  >      Ducks 
Belted  Kingfisher  Geese 

Goldfinches  that  have  win-  ]  Hawks 

tered  here  changing          f  Cowbird  (early) 

plumage 

April  10  to  20 
Fox  Sparrow         )  Yellow  Palm  Warbler 

later  migration  )  Blue  Heron 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 


75 


Cowbird 

Ruby-crowned  Kinglet 
Golden-crowned  Kinglet 
Swamp  Sparrow 
Vesper  Sparrow 
Field  Sparrow 
Savanna  Sparrow 
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker 


Hermit  Thrush 
Purple  Finch 
flicker     . 
Tree  Swallow 
Barn  Swallow 
Purple  Martin 
Bank  Swallow 
may  be  seen 


Winter  Wren 

Winter  birds  and  early  migrants  leave  for  their  nest- 
ing ground. 

April  20  to  May  I 

Osprey  Pine  Warbler 

Chipping  Sparrow  Loon 

White-throated  Sparrow  |     Brown  Thrasher 

1     Black  and  White  Warbler 

Migrant  Shrike 
May  i  to  10 
Chebec 

Black-throated  Green  War- 
bler 

Black-throatel  Blue  Warbler 
Parula  Warbler 
Nashville  Warbler 


becomes  plentiful 
Myrtle  Warbler 


Blue-headed  Vireo 
Chewink 
Bank  Swallow 
Eiave  Swallow 
Water-thrush 
Green  Heron 
Chimney  Swift 
Bittern 


Yellow   Warbler 
Spotted  Sandpiper 
Many  species  that  begin  arriving  the  middle  of  April 
are  departing  for  their  homes  in  the  North. 


May  10  to  20 

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  Veery 
Maryland  Yellow-throat  Oriole 
Redstart  Whip-poor-will 

Ovenbird  Kingbird 


76  Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler  Goldfinch 

Magnolia  Warbler  Bobolink 

White-crowned  Sparrow  House  Wren 

Catbird  Olive-sided  Flycatcher 

Yellow-throated  Vireo  Crested  Flycatcher 

Warbling  Vireo  Hummingbird 

May  20  to  June  3 
Canadian  Warbler  Cuckoo 

Baybreasted  Warbler  Nighthawk 

Blackburnian  Warbler  Scarlet  Tanager 

Tennessee  Warbler  Wood  Pewee 

Wilson's  Warbler  Cedar  Waxwing 

Cape  May  Warbler  Indigo  Bunting 

Black-poll  Warbler  Olive-backed  Thrush 

Red-eyed  Vireo  Alder  Flycatcher 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher 

Migrants  that  nest  farther  north  depart. 

Most  years  the  early  birds  arrive  individually  or  in 
small  flocks.  Following  the  very  cold  winter  of  1917-18 
the  atmosphere  became  mild  about  March  2Oth.  On  that 
day  and  the  2ist  there  was  an  unusual  arrival  of  blue- 
birds, robins,  song  sparrows  and  a  few  others. 

During  April  there  will  be  waves  of  migration.  April 
10,  1915,  a  great  wave  came,  and  usually  about  the  i9th 
there  will  be  a  large  migration.  May  will  have  many 
interesting  days,  especially  just  before  or  after  the  2Oth, 
when  the  warblers  are  so  numerous  that  one  day  is  called 
warbler  day.  The  banner  record  was  May  20,  1917*  when 
between  sixty  and  seventy  different  species  of  birds  were 
reported  in  this  vicinity. 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn  77 


SUGGESTIONS 

The  best  time  for  observation  is  early  morning.  If 
that  is  impossible,  late  afternoon  is  next  best.  Bird-lovers 
avoid  windy  weather,  for  then  the  feathered  songsters  are 
less  numerous.  During  cold  days  or  the  early  hours  of 
cold  mornings  birds  will  be  scarce.  Some  dull  days,  if 
mild,  will  be  favorable.  On  a  warm  sunshiny  morning 
following  a  migration  a  bird-lover  has  all  an  enthusiast 
could  wish,  but  the  next  morning  what  a  change — many 
have  passed  forward  on  their  northern  journey,  for  it  is 
probable  that  the  same  individuals  of  a  species  do  not 
tarry  long  in  one  locality  during  the  flights  north.  In 
times  of  migration  birds  of  the  same  species  continue  to 
arrive  and  depart  until  all  have  passed  to  their  nesting 
ground.  This  accounts  for  birds  of  the  same  kind  being 
seen  several  weeks  in  the  spring.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  autumnal  flight  south. 


Birds  of  Lewiston-Auburn 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Beetle-head 70 

Bittern,  American 66 

Least 71 

Blackbird,  Crow 49 

Red-winged 50 

Rusty 49 

Blue-bill 72 

Little 72 

Bluebird 17 

Bobolink 51 

Bob-white 64 

Buffle-head 71 

Bunting,  Bay-winged 44 

Indigo 39 

Snow 45 

Butcher-bird  (Northern 

Shrike) 37 

Catbird 26 

Chebec 53 

Cherry  Bird 37 

Chewink 40 

Chickadee,  Black-capped 23 

Hudsonian 22 

Coot,  American 70 

Cowbird 50 

Creeper,  Brown 24 

Crossbill,  American  or  Red 46 

White- winged 46 

Crow,  American 52 

Rain 57 

Cuckoo,  Black-billed 58 

Yellow-billed 59 

Diver,  Great  Northern 68 

Hell 73 

Dove,  Mourning 63 

Tame 63 

Duck,  Am.  Golden-eye 67 

Black 67 

Buffle-head 71 

Harlequin 71 

Lesser  Scaup 72 

Old  Squaw 71 

Pintail 72 

Redhead 72 

Ruddy 67 

Scaup 72 

Wood ....72 


PAGE 

Dunlin 70 

Eagle,  Bald 61 

Finch,  Grass 44 

Pine 45 

Purple 47 

Flicker,  Northern 56 

Flycatcher,  Alder 53 

Crested 54 

Least 53 

Olive-sided 54 

Yellow-bellied 53 

Gallinule,  Florida 71 

Purple 71 

Golden-eye,  American 67 

Goldfinch,  American 45 

Goose,  Canada.. 67 

Goshawk,  American 62 

Grackle,  Bronzed 49 

Grass  Bird 70 

Grebe,  HolboeiFs 73 

Horned 73 

Pied-billed 73 

Greenlet 35-36 

Grosbeak,  Evening 48 

Pine,  Canadian 47 

Rose-breasted 40 

Grouse,  Canadian  Ruffed 

(Partridge) 63 

Guillemot,  Black 73 

Gull,  Bonaparte 72 

Herring 67 

Hawk,  Am.  Rough-legged 62 

Am.  Sparrow 61 

Broad-winged 62 

Cooper's 62 

Duck 61 

Fish 61 

Hen : 62 

Marsh 63 

Pigeon 61 

Red-shouldered 62 

Red-tailed 62 

Sharp-shinned 63 

Heron,  Great  Blue 66 

Green 66 

Night,  Black-crowned 71 

Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated  55 


Birds  of  Lewist on- Auburn 


79 


52 

.....59 

42 

70 

.55 


Jay,  Blue 

Canada 

Junco,  Slate-colored  . 

Killdeer 

Kingbird 

Kingfisher,  Belted 58 

Kinglet,  Golden-crowned 22 

Ruby-crowned 22 

Lark,  Horned 53 

Prairie  Horned 52 

Shore 53 

Linnet 45 

Longspur,  Lapland 44 

Loon 68 

Marsh  Hen 66 

Martin,  Purple 38 

Meadowlark 50 

Merganser  American 67 

Hooded 72 

Red-breasted 72 

Mockingbird 26 

Murre,  Brunnich 73 

Nighthawk 56 

Nuthatch,  Red-breasted 23 

White-breasted 24 

Old-squaw 71 

Oriole,  Baltimore 49 

Orchard 59 

Osprey,  American 61 

Ovenbird 29 

Owl,  Acadian 60 

Am.  Hawk 59 

Barred 60 

Great  Gray 60 

Great  Horned 59 

Long-eared,  American 61 

Mottled 60 

Richardson 60 

Saw-whet 60 

Screech 60 

Short-eared 60 

Snowy 59 

Partridge 63 

Petrel,  Leach's 72 

Pewee,  Bridge .54 

Wood 54 

Phalarope,  Wilson's 70 

Pheasant,  English 64 

Phoebe 54 

Pigeon,  Passenger 63 


Pintail 72 

Pipit,  American 26 

Plover,  Am.  Golden 70 

Black-bellied 70 

Semipalmated 65 

Upland 70 

Quail 64 

Rail,  Carolina 71 

Virginia 71 

Redhead 72 

Redpoll 45 

Redstart,  American 27 

Ring-neck 65 

Robin,  American 17 

Golden 49 

Sanderling 65 

Sandpiper,  Bartramian 70 

Least 66 

Pectoral 70 

Red-backed 70 

Semipalmated 66 

Solitary 65 

Spotted 65 

White-rumped 70 

Sapsucker,  Yellow-bellied 57 

Scoter,  American 71 

Surf 71 

White-winged 71 

Sheldrake 67 

Shrike,  Migrant 36 

Northern 37 

Siskin,  Pine 45 

Snipe,  American 70 

Jack 70 

Wilson's 70 

Snowbird 42 

Snowflake 45 

Sora 71 

Sparrow,  Chipping 42 

English 46 

Field 42 

Fox 40 

House 46 

Savanna 44 

Song 41 

Swamp 40 

Tree 43 

Vesper 44 

White-crowned 44 

White-throated 43 

Stake  Driver....  66 


80 


Birds  of  Le  wist  on- Auburn 


Starling , 51 

Swallow,  Bank 37 

Barn 38 

Cliff .' 38 

Eave 38 

Sea 72 

Tree 38 

White-bellied 38 

Swan,  Whistling 68 

Swift,  Chimney 55 

Tanager,  Scarlet 39 

Teal,  Blue-winged 72 

Green-winged 72 

Tern,  Arctic 72 

Common 72 

Thrasher,  Brown 25 

Thrush,  Golden-crowned 29 

Hermit 18 

Olive-backed 20 

Wilson's 20 

Wood 21 

Titlark 26 

Towhee 40 

Veery 20 

Vireo,  Blue-headed 35 

Philadelphia 36 

Red-eyed 36 

Solitary 35 

Warbling 35 

Yellow-throated 35 

Warbler,  Bay-breasted 32 

Black  and  White 35 

Black  and  Yellow 32 

Blackburnian 31 

Black-poll 31 

Black-throated  Blue 33 

Black-throated  Green 30 

Canadian 27 

Cape  May 34 


Chestnut-sided 32 

Connecticut 29 

Magnolia 32 

Mourning 28 

Myrtle 33 

Nashville 34 

Parula,  Northern 34 

Pine 30 

Pine  Creeping 30 

Tennessee 34 

Wilson's 28 

Yellow 33 

Yellow-Paim 30 

Yellow  Redpoll 30 

Yellow-rumped 33 

WTater  Thrush 29 

Water  Wagtail 29 

Waxwing,  Bohemian 59 

Cedar 37 

Whip-poor-will 56 

Whistler 67 

Winter  Chippy 43 

Woodcock 66 

Woodpecker,  Am.  Three- 
toed 57 

Arctic  Three-toed 58 

Downy 58 

Hairy 58 

Pileated,  Northern 57 

Red-headed 57 

Wren,  House 25 

Winter 24 

Yellowbird,  Summer 33 

Yellow-hammer 56 

Yellow-legs,  Greater 65 

Summer 65 

Winter 65 

Yellow-throat,  M  aryland 28 


Miller,  C.E. 

Birds  of 


i  • 

Lewi si on- 


Gaylord  Bro! 

Makers 
Syracuse,  N. 
PAT.JAN.2U90S 


BIOLOGY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


